Amelioration of osteoporosis and hypovitaminosis D by sunlight exposure in stroke patients.
BACKGROUND
The authors' previous investigations have disclosed low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentrations in 45 patients during long-term hospitalization following stroke (mean 5.9 ng/mL). This 25-OHD deficiency resulted from sunlight deprivation.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of sunlight exposure in increasing serum 25-OHD, in reducing the severity of osteoporosis in bone mineral density (BMD), and in decreasing the risk of hip fractures in chronically hospitalized, disabled stroke patients.


METHODS
In a 12-month randomized and prospective study of stroke patients, 129 received regular sunlight exposure for 12 months, and the remaining 129 (sunlight-deprived) did not.


RESULTS
At baseline, patients of both groups showed vitamin D deficiency. BMD increased by 3.1% in the sunlight-exposed group and decreased by 3.3% in the sunlight-deprived group (p = 0.0001). 25-OHD level increased by fourfold in the sunlight-exposed group. Six patients sustained hip fractures on the hemiplegic side in the sunlight-deprived group, and one hip fracture occurred among the sunlight-exposed group (p = 0421; odds ratio = 6.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Sunlight exposure can increase the BMD of vitamin D-deficient bone by increasing 25-OHD concentration.
Sato
Yoshihiro
Y
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
Metoki
Norifumi
N
Iwamoto
Jun
J
Satoh
Kei
K
D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D006370:Heliotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
C470125:PTH protein, human; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; C097949:1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D002118:Calcium