Endocrine Abstracts

This cross sectional single centre study was performed at an endocrine center in northern India (latitude 29°42′N and longitude 77°02′E) to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in 234 symptomatic women presenting with musculoskeletal symptoms. The study was conducted during winter (Nov 2010–Jan 2011).

Subjects were recruited from patients attending the OPD for various musculoskeletal symptoms. Inclusion criteria were symptomatic women, without known renal or hepatic disease or malignancy. Patients with history of surgery, hospitalization, or major medical illness within the past one year were excluded from the study. Patients on hormone replacement therapy, glucocorticoids, biophosphonates, teriparatide and other drugs affecting bone metabolism were excluded.

Intake of conventional calcium/vitamin D supplements was not considered an exclusion criterion. Only patients living at the same location, in Karnal district, for at least one year were included. All subjects enrolled after taking a written informed voluntary consent.

The cohort comprised of 165 urban dwellers (70.51%) and 69 (29.48%) rural dwellers. 171 (73.07%) were of Hindu religion, with the rest 63 being Sikh (26.92%). All women wore traditional Indian dress of sari or salwar-kameez. None of them observed purdah. All but 21 (8.97%) were vegetarian. The average age was 45.43±11.72 years (range 18.0 to 65.0 years).

Twenty-five (10.68%) had hemoglobin below 10 g%. Serum calcium levels were below 8.5 mg% in 24 subjects (10.25%), and were raised (above 10.5 mg%) in one (0.427%). Serum phosphorus was normal in all. Serum alkaline phosphatase was raised in 32 (13.67%) patients.

25-Hydroxy vitamin D levels measured <10 mg/ml in 130 subjects (55.55%) and between 10 and 30 mg/ml in 90 subjects (38.46%). Thus, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was 94.01% in this cohort of north Indian patients with musculoskeletal complaints. This was significantly higher than the 66.7% prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency reported in healthy asymptomatic postmenopausal women from the same centre.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.