High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in healthy elderly people living at home in Argentina

B. OLIVERI; L. PLANTALECH; A BAGUR; G. ROVAI; E. PUSIOL; J LO´PEZ GIOVANELLI; G PONCE; A NIEVA; A CHAPERÓN; M LADIZESKY; J SOMOZA; C. CASCO; S. ZENI; M.S. PARISI

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION

NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Año: 2004 vol. 58 p. 337 - 342

0954-3007

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin D in urban populations of healthy elderly people living at home, indifferent regions of Argentina.Design: Cross-sectional study.Subjects: In total, 386 ambulatory subjects over 65 y of age from seven cities (between latitude 261S and 551S) were asked toparticipate between the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Of these, 369 accepted, 30 were excluded because ofmedical history or abnormal biochemical determinations. Finally, 339 subjects (226 women and 113 men) (X7s.d.) (71.375.2 y) were included.Results: Serum 25OHD levels were lowest in the South (latitude range: 411S–551S): 14.275.6 ng/ml (Po0.0001vs North and Midregions); highest in the North (261S–271S): 20.777.4 ng/ml (Po0.03 vs Mid, Po0.0001vs South); and intermediate in the Midregion (331S–341S) 17.978.2 ng/ml. Serum mid-molecule PTH (mmPTH) and 25OHD were inversely related: (r¼0.24, Po0.001).A cutoff level of 25OHD at which serum mmPTH levels began to increase was established at 27 ng/ml. A high prevalence (87–52%)of subjects with 25OHD levels in the deficiency-insufficiency range (25OHD levels o20 ng/ml) was detected.Conclusion: This study shows that vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in the elderly is a worldwide problem. Correction of thisdeficit would have a positive impact on bone health of elderly people.Sponsorship: Asociacio´n Argentina de Osteologý´a y Metabolismo Mineral (AAOMM).European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004) 58, 337–342. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601786Keywords: vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency; secondary hyperparathyroidism; elderly people