Vitamin D, sunlight exposure, and bone density in elderly African American females of low socioeconomic status.
OBJECTIVE
Darker skin pigmentation and aging are known factors influencing the body's ability to synthesize adequate amounts of vitamin D (25OHD). The objective of this study is to determine the 25OHD insufficiency in elderly African American females of low socioeconomic status (SES) in a southern latitude during springtime sun exposure.


METHODS
Patients >or= 70 years old who did not have disorders that might affect vitamin D and calcium absorption/metabolism were enrolled at a community health center. Serum calcium, 25OHD, and intact parathyroid hormone were measured and repeated 6--8 weeks later. Bone mineral density (BMD) scan results were obtained from clinic records.


RESULTS
Most subjects (86.4%) had inadequate 25OHD levels < 32ng/mL, and no clinically significant rise in levels was seen after 6--8 weeks of sun exposure. A quarter of subjects had truly deficient 25OHD levels <or= 15ng/mL. 25OHD levels were positively correlated with BMD only at the lumbar spine. Fifty-two percent of subjects were osteopenic, and 9% were osteoporotic.


CONCLUSIONS
25OHD insufficiency is common among low SES elderly African American women, and springtime sunlight exposure does not cause significant increases in 25OHD. Additionally, this population has low calcium and vitamin D intake from diet, and more women than expected had reduced BMD.
Weaver
Sally P
SP
McLennan County Medical Education and Research Foundation, Family Medicine Residency Program, Waco, Tex, USA. SallyWeaver@me.com
Passmore
Cindy
C
Collins
Ben
B
Fung
Eugene
E
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium