Vitamin D Levels and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women

Introduction and Objectives: Osteoporosis characterized by low bone mass is a major health problem in post-menopausal women. Bone Mineral Density (BMD) represents the density or thickness of bones. Vitamin D plays an important role in bone growth and maintenance. Vitamin D inadequacy is implicated in the development of osteopenia and osteoporosis. To study the Bone Mineral Density and serum 25-hydroxy Vitamin D levels in post-menopausal women. Materials and Method: This was a cross sectional study conducted in the Gynaecology OPD at a tertiary care centre in Chennai. 3o postmenopausal women in the age group of 45 and above were chosen for the study. Bone mineral density was measured by ultrasound bone densitometer and expressed as T score. Serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels were estimated by Chemiluminescence method. The data was analysed using SPSS software version 16. Results: T score of all the subjects ranged between -2.5 to -4.25. The mean serum 25-hydroxy Vitamin D level was 16.6 ± 4.8 ng/ml. Pearson correlation analysis was done. A significant correlation was seen between Age and Bone Mineral Density (p<0.000), 25- hydroxy Vitamin D and Bone Mineral Density (p<0.000), age and 25- hydroxy Vitamin D (p<0.000). Interpretation: In this study the T score of all the subjects ranged from -2.5 to -4.25 which is suggestive of osteoporosis. In this study 37% of the subjects had 25-hydroxy Vitamin D levels less than 20ng/ml suggestive of Vitamin D Deficiency. Conclusion: Vitamin D could be an important factor implicated in the development of osteoporosis in these post-menopausal women.