Endocrine Abstracts

The aim of the study was to evaluate vitamin D levels in Lithuanian male military conscripts and its association with PTH, osteocalcin and testosterone, body muscles and LBM percentage, as well as depression–sadness, tension–anxiety and psychological and physical quality of life.

Methods: A total of 262 healthy Lithuanian male military conscripts were tested for vitamin D, PTH, osteocalcin and testosterone concentration and 155 (59.2%) of them we rechecked 1 year later. Paralleled body composition was performed by the principle of bioelectrical impedance and evaluation of emotional state (POMS) as well as quality of life. Results. Primary vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/ml) was detected in 95.0 and 96.7% when rechecked. The mean concentration of vitamin D was 12.5±4.5 and 10.4±4.9 ng/ml 1 year later. Nevertheless, PTH (2.54±1.23 pmol/l) and osteocalcin (38.9±11.9 ng/ml) concentration when checked and rechecked (2.70±1.10 pmol/l and 40.4±12.8 ng/ml, respectively) were in normal ranges. Spearman’s rank order correlation (r=−0.2; P=0.02) between vitamin D and PTH was detected when rechecked at the end of military service. At the end of the study, vitamin D concentration correlated with muscles (r=0.2; P=0.03) and LBM percentage (r=0.2; P=0.04), and the mean testosterone concentration was significantly (P=0.025) lower in severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) if compared with moderate (10–20 ng/ml) – 16.7±4.13 and 18.6±5.08 nmol/l, respectively. Vitamin D concentration correlated negatively with tension–anxiety (r=−0.14; P=0.03) and depression–sadness (r=−0.19; P=0.03) and positively with quality of life: Physical health (r=0.27; P=0.0009) and psychological health (r=0.29; P=0.0005).

Conclusion: The majority of the Lithuanian male military conscripts were detected to have vitamin D concentrations, corresponding severe deficiency. The greater vitamin D deficiency at the end of the study resulted in significant increase in PTH concentration; however, there were no significant changes in the osteocalcin concentration. More severe vitamin D deficiency at the end of the study significantly correlated with a smaller amount of body muscles and LBM percentage and decreased testosterone concentration. A lower vitamin D concentration conditioned depression–sadness and tension–anxiety as well as decreased psychological and physical quality of life.