Severe vitamin D deficiency in the institutionalized elderly

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J Endocrinol Invest. 2008 Sep;31(9):784-7.

Severe vitamin D deficiency in the institutionalized elderly.

Papapetrou PD, Triantafyllopoulou M, Korakovouni A.

Central Clinic of Athens, Athens, Greece. pdpap@...

Severe vitamin D deficiency has been found to be prevalent in

institutionalized elderly persons in several countries. The aim of the

present work was to assess the vitamin D status of institutionalized

elderly and compare it to that of community-living independent elderly

in southern Greece during summer. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]

and plasma PTH were measured in 58 (aged 68-103 yr, median 83.5) elderly

inmates of a nursing home (IE) in the town of Kalamata (latitude N 37

degrees ) and in 48 (aged 60-89 yr, median 72) community-dwelling

elderly (CDE) in Athens (latitude N 38 degrees ). The CDE had mean serum

25(OH)D 67.6 nmol/l [95% confidence interval (CI) 57.4 to 79.5], not far

from the value of 80 nmol/l which is generally considered to be the

lower limit of vitamin D sufficiency. The IE had significantly lower

mean 25(OH)D 19.0 nmol/l (17.1 to 21.1); values of 25(OH)D below 20

nmol/l characterize severe vitamin D deficiency and may cause

osteomalacia. The group of CDE had significantly lower mean plasma PTH

1.5 pmol/l (1.0 to 1.8) compared to 4.5 (3.9 to 5.3) of IE. Ninety

percent of CDE had normal plasma PTH whereas 60% of IE had secondary

hyperparathyroidism (PTH values >4.0 pmol/l). In conclusion, the

majority of institutionalized elderly in southern Greece had severe

vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism in contrast to

the fairly good vitamin D status and lack of hyperparathyroidism in the

community-living elderly during summer. These findings indicate the need

for vitamin D and calcium supplementation of the institutionalized

elderly throughout the year.

PMID: 18997490 [PubMed - in process]

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