Korean J Obstet Gynecol KJOG Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2233-5188 2233-5196 Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology 10.5468/KJOG.2011.54.5.241 Original Article The serum vitamin D nutritional status and its relationship with skeletal status in Korean postmenopausal women Lee Min Kyung MD 1 Yoon Byung Koo MD 2 Chung Ho Yeon MD 3 Park Hyoung Moo MD 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Corresponding author: Hyoung Moo Park, MD. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Korea. Tel: +82-2-6299-3172, Fax: +82-2-6263-2187, hmpark@hananet.net 05 2011 20 05 2011 54 5 241 246 14 03 2011 25 04 2011 02 05 2011 Copyright © 2011. Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2011

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

 Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin D and its relationship with skeletal status in postmenopausal Korean women.

 Methods

We studied 322 ambulatory postmenopausal women recruited in Seoul, Korea. The research was performed from October 2008 to March 2009. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level was measured by immunoradiometric assay. The bone mineral densities were measured at the lumbar spine and femur using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry.

 Results

The mean serum 25(OH)D level was 16.0 ± 7.1 ng/mL and the mean serum PTH level was 34.0 ± 13.7 pg/mL. About 90% of all studied postmenopausal women were in vitamin D inadequate status. Although serum vitamin D level was the lowest in osteoporotic postmenopausal women, no significant differences were found in serum level of vitamin D among normal, osteopenic, and osteoporotic women (P =0.4689). Vitamin D level in elderly women over 65 years was significant lower than non-elderly women (P =0.0011). But no significant differences were found in vitamin D levels between early and late postmenopausal women (P =0.9882). Serum vitamin D level in winter and spring was significantly lower than serum vitamin D level in autumn (P < 0.0001). Serum vitamin D level was negatively correlated with serum PTH level (r = -0.3054, P < 0.0001).

 Conclusion

About three quarters of postmenopausal women were in vitamin D deficient status regardless of the status of bone health. Therefore, it is recommended to prescribe the supplemental vitamin D to improve bone health of postmenopausal Korean women.

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Vitamin D nutritional status according to bone health (P=0.4689).

Correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) (P<0.0001).

Clinical characteristics of total 322 postmenopausal subjects

25(OH)D, 25-hydroxy vitamin D; PTH, parathyroid hormone; BMI, body mass index; SD, standard deviation.

Vitamin D nutritional status

25(OH)D, 25-hydroxy vitamin D.

Vitamin D level and relationship with bone health

SD, standard deviation; Min, minimum; Max, maximum.

P=0.0569.

Vitamin D level according to age, menopause duration and seasonal variation

SD, standard deviation; Min, minimum; Max, maximum.