[Hypovitaminosis D in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density].
BACKGROUND
Low vitamin D levels are a risk factor for osteoporosis. In the Northern hemisphere, a high frequency of low vitamin D levels has been detected. The correction of this deficit is associated with a lower fracture risk.


OBJECTIVE
To measure serum vitamin D levels in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density.


METHODS
25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured in 40 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 74 years old, with a spine bone mineral density of less than 2 standard deviation of the values for young individuals. Serum calcium, phosphorus and calcium dietary intake were also measured.


RESULTS
Mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were 32.2 +/- 12.5 ng/ml. No correlation between vitamin D levels and other measured variables was observed. Using a cutoff value of 15 ng/ml, two women had low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.


CONCLUSIONS
In this sample of postmenopausal women, vitamin D deficiency was infrequent.
Rodríguez Portales
J A
JA
Departamento de Endocrinología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D