Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is observed across all age groups and both sexes. Moreover vitamin D deficiency is common in elderly especially along elderly patients. Elderly people are prone to develop of vitamin D deficiency caused by various factors such as deceased dietary intake, impaired intestinal absorption, reduced sunlight exposure, impaired skin synthesis as well as impaired hydroxylation in the liver and kidneys. Vitamin D deficiency may leads to rickets, osteoporosis, osteomalacia and furthermore increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, mental illness and many others.

Aim: We have set out to investigate status of vitamin D among patients over 60 years hospitalized at the geriatric department.

Material and methods: The study was carried out with 422 patients. From the study was excluded patients with marked physical and/or mental impairment, liver disorders, decompensated thyroid disorders, cancer, as well as people using medications such as glucocorticosteroids or/and using of vitamin D supplement. Finally to the study was included 242 patients (172 females, 70 males). All patients provided consent before included to the study. Venous blood samples were collected after overnight fasting. The serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (ng/ml) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anthropometric parameters and body impedance analysis were measure on the morning.

Results: The mean serum 25(OH) vitamin D concentration among total patients was 14.88±5.95 ng/ml, among women group was 14.41±6.19 ng/ml, among men group was 16.06±5.16 ng/ml. The mean serum 25(OH) vitamin D concentration was higher among patients aged 60-74 years in comparison to patients aged 75 years and over (16.24±6.18 ng/ml vs 14.22±5.73 ng/ml), P=0120. Most of elderly patients 79.8% (n=193) had vitamin D deficiency defined as 25(OH)D ≤ 20.0 ng/ml. Suboptimal vitamin D concentration (>20.0-30.0 ng/ml) was observed in 19.0% (n=46) study group and adequate of vitamin D concentration (> 30.0 ng/ml) had 1.2% (n=3) patients. The mean value of BMI was 28.15±5.50 kg/m² (men 27.52±4.76 kg/m²; women 28.41±5.77 kg/m²), mean of body fat in % was 33.56±9.59 (man 26.93±7.80; women 36.26±8.93) mean of muscle mass in kg was 43.30±8.25 (men 52.47±6.63; women 39.57±5.45). Vitamin D concentration was 14.84±5.50 ng/ml among obese patients (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m²), 15.32±6.00 ng/ml among overweigh patients (BMI 25.0-29.0 kg/m²) and 4.00±6.00 ng/ml among patients with normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m²), P=3480.

Conclusion: Vitamin D was observed in geriatric patients irrespective of age, gender and body mass. Proper vitamin D supplementation should be recommended in this group of people.