Endocrine Abstracts

We evaluated 341 postmenopausal women, aged 29–84 years (mean age 58.18±9.01) and referred to the Center for Osteoporosis starting December 2013. Secondary causes of osteoporosis/bone loss and patients under antiosteoporotic medication or under vitamin D substitution were excluded from the study. All patients performed DXA measurement (Dexxum T, Osteosys, Inc., South Korea) (same expert). FRAX and 25 HO vitamin D levels were determined. We defined vitamin D deficiency as levels below 10 ng/ml and insufficiency as levels below 30 ng/ml. The mean 25 HO vitamin D value in the investigated group was 23.69±11.40 ng/ml (4.1–71.3 ng/ml). Vitamin D insufficiency was present in 65.39% and deficiency in 9.38% of the cases. The level of deficiency/insufficiency increased with age, but was described even in young woman (below 40). When we analyzed the DXA results, the hip and spine density turned out to be lower in the presence of vitamin D insufficiency. Using the ROC curve and Youden index, we observed that a 25 HO vitamin D level lower than 21.80 ng/ml is highly predictive for lumbar and femoral neck demineralisation.

Conclusion: Evaluation of vitamin D status is important in the assessment of bone health in postmenopausal women, decreased levels of vitamin D being associated with increased prevalence of bone demineralisation.