title: Reduced vitamin D in acute stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stroke leads to a reduction in bone mineral density, altered calcium homeostasis, and an increase in hip fractures. Vitamin D deficiency is well documented in long-term stroke survivors and is associated with post-stroke hip fractures. Less is known regarding levels in acute stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the serum 25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels of 44 patients admitted to an acute stroke unit with first-ever stroke with results obtained by measuring 96 healthy ambulant elderly subjects every 2 months for 1 year. Statistical Z scores of serum vitamin D were then calculated after seasonal adjustment for the month of sampling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean Z score of vitamin D in acute stroke was -1.4 SD units (95% CI, -1.7, -1.1), with 77% of patients falling in the insufficient range.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced vitamin D was identified in the majority of patients with acute stroke throughout the year and may have preceded stroke. Vitamin D is a potential risk marker for stroke, and the role of vitamin D repletion in enhancing musculoskeletal health after stroke needs to be explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK. kesp2@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Kenneth E S
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Poole
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Loveridge
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Halsall
authors.forename: Collette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reeve
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Warburton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D