title: 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration, vitamin D intake and joint symptoms in postmenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) concentrations have been associated with radiologic worsening of osteoarthritis in some reports. However, the results are mixed and few studies have evaluated associations between 25(OH) D concentrations and both total vitamin D intake and clinical joint symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analyses of information from a subset of 1993 postmenopausal women obtained at baseline entry in the Women's Health Initiative Calcium plus Vitamin D clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  25(OH) D concentration, total vitamin D intake (diet plus supplements), presence and severity of joint pain and joint swelling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 25(OH) D levels were commonly low with 53% having deficient (<50 nmol/L) and only 17% having sufficient (>72 nmol/L) levels. Joint pain (reported by 74%) and joint swelling (reported by 34%) were also commonly reported. 25(OH) D concentrations were modestly correlated with total vitamin D intake (R=0.29, p<0.0001); however, considerable variability in 25(OH) D concentrations for a given vitamin D intake was seen. In adjusted linear regression models, lower serum 25(OH) D concentrations were associated with higher average joint pain score (P=0.01 for trend) with differences most apparent in the lowest 25(OH) D levels sextile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relatively low 25(OH) D levels and a high frequency of joint symptoms were common in this population of postmenopausal women. Total vitamin D intake was only modestly associated with 25(OH) D. Low serum 25(OH) D concentrations were associated with higher joint pain scores. These findings can inform the design of future intervention trials.
authors.affiliation: Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, United States. rchlebowski@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rowan T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Chlebowski
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pettinger
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kooperberg
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wactawski-Wende
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rohan
authors.forename: Mary Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: Shagufta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yasmeen
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hiatt
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shikany
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vitolins
authors.forename: Janu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khandekar
authors.forename: F Allan
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Hubbell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D017698:Postmenopause; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D