Document Detail


Epidemic vitamin D deficiency among patients in an elderly care rehabilitation facility.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22334819     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Many benefits are ascribed to vitamin D beyond its well-known effects on calcium and bone metabolism. Vitamin D in adequate amounts is apparently beneficial to muscle, lessening the risk of falls and fractures in the elderly. The elderly produce less vitamin D in their skin than younger persons do, and they also spend less time in the sun; they are therefore at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency.
METHODS: We used gas chromatography with mass spectrometry coupling to measure the 25-OH-vitamin D level of 1578 elderly persons (72% women) who were consecutively admitted to an elderly care rehabilitation facility in Trier, Germany, from July 2009 to March 2011. Their mean and median age was 82 years.
RESULTS: 89% of the patients had 25-OH-vitamin D deficiency (defined as a level below 20 ng/mL), and 67% had a severe deficiency (below 10 ng/mL). Only 4% had levels in the target range (30-60 ng/mL); none had a level above 100 ng/mL.
CONCLUSION: Many of these patients were deficient in vitamin D. Persons of very advanced age need a better supply of vitamin D not only to keep their bones healthy, but also to lessen the risk of falls and fractures.
Authors:
Stefan Schilling
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2012-01-20
Journal Detail:
Title:  Deutsches Ärzteblatt international     Volume:  109     ISSN:  1866-0452     ISO Abbreviation:  Dtsch Arztebl Int     Publication Date:  2012 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2012-02-15     Completed Date:  2012-09-18     Revised Date:  2013-03-01    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101475967     Medline TA:  Dtsch Arztebl Int     Country:  Germany    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  33-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Geriatrische Rehabilitationsklinik St. Irminen, Trier, Germany. s.schilling@vereinigtehospitien.de
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cross-Sectional Studies
Epidemics / statistics & numerical data*
Female
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Germany
Humans
Male
Nursing Homes / statistics & numerical data*
Reference Values
Rehabilitation Centers / statistics & numerical data*
Risk Factors
Vitamin D / blood
Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology*,  etiology,  prevention & control
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
1406-16-2/Vitamin D
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2012 May;109(19):359; author reply 359-60   [PMID:  22675407 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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