title: Low calcium intake and inadequate vitamin D status in postmenopausal osteoporotic women.
abstract: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted to assess calcium intake and vitamin D status by measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), in postmenopausal osteoporotic women (PMOW) treated and untreated for osteoporosis. To assess the influence of sunlight exposure on vitamin D status, the study group was categorized on the basis of sunlight exposure (above or below 2500 sunlight h/year). A group of 336 PMOW older than 65 years was identified (190 [56.5%] treated and 146 [43.5%] untreated for osteoporosis). The demographic and clinical data of the PMO women included history of prior fractures, pharmacological treatments and dietary calcium intake. BMD was measured by DEXA and 25(OH)D was determined by an HPLC method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  vitamin D serum levels were lower in the untreated group as compared with the treated group (58±27 vs. 67±27nmol/l; p=0.006). Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (cut-off point set at <50nmol/l) was higher in the non-treated group (43.8% vs. 29.5%; p=0.009). Nearly all PMOW, whether treated or not for osteoporosis had a total calcium intake of less than 1200mg. Sunlight exposure did not influence the vitamin D status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  vitamin D deficiency and an insufficient calcium intake are highly prevalent in both treated and untreated Spanish PMOW older than 65 years. This can be related to low therapeutic adherence and/or insufficient prescription. Therefore physician's and patient's knowledge regarding the optimization of vitamin D status and calcium intake should be improved and implemented. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Vitamin D workshop'.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain. jmquesada@uco.es
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Quesada-Gómez
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diaz-Curiel
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sosa-Henriquez
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malouf-Sierra
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Nogues-Solan
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gomez-Alonso
authors.forename: Leocadio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Mañas
authors.forename: Jose Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Neyro-Bilbao
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cortes
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delgadillo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D