News Release

Indian study reveals that three-quarters of hip fracture patients are vitamin D deficient

New Delhi researchers show that vitamin D levels may be a useful index for the assessment of hip fracture risk in elderly people

Peer-Reviewed Publication

International Osteoporosis Foundation

A study from New Delhi India has revealed high rates of vitamin D deficiency among hip fracture patients, confirming the conclusions of similar international studies which point to vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for hip fracture.

A group of 90 hip fracture patients was compared to a matched control group of similar age, sex and co-morbidity. Of the patients who had suffered hip fractures, 76.7% were shown to be vitamin D deficient as measured by serum 25(OH)D levels of less than 20 ng/ml. In addition, 68.9% had elevated PTH levels. In comparison, only 32.3% of the controls had vitamin D deficiency and 42.2% had elevated PTH levels (secondary hyperparathyroidism).

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and is increasingly thought to play a role in muscle strength, certain cancers, multiple sclerosis and diabetes. Vitamin D levels are very low in the Indian population in all age groups, and could be explained by skin pigmentation, traditional clothing and the avoidance of sunlight.

The results of the New Delhi study confirm that serum 25 (OH)D levels may be a useful index for the assessment of risk of hip fracture in elderly people.

The study (OC13) was presented at the IOF Regionals – 1st Asia-Pacific Regional Osteoporosis Meeting being held in Singapore from December 10-13, 2010. Abstracts from the meeting have been published in Osteoporosis International, Vol. 21, Suppl. 5, 2010.

###

About IOF

The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is a non-profit, nongovernmental organization dedicated to the worldwide fight against osteoporosis, the disease known as "the silent epidemic". IOF's members – committees of scientific researchers, patient, medical and research societies and industry representatives from around the world – share a common vision of a world without osteoporotic fractures. IOF now represents 195 societies around the world, including 28 societies in Asia. IOF's Asian-Pacific regional office is located in Singapore.

The 2nd IOF Asia-Pacific Osteoporosis & Bone Meeting, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the ANZBMS, will be held in Gold Coast, Australia from September 4 - 8, 2011

http://www.iofbonehealth.org


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.