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The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and relationship with fracture risk in older women presenting in Australian general practice
Author(s) -
Robinson Penelope J,
Bell Robin J,
Lanzafame Alfred,
Kirby Catherine,
Weekes Andrew,
Piterman Leon,
Davis Susan R
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2011.00553.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d deficiency , general practice , vitamin d and neurology , gerontology , pediatrics , psychiatry , family medicine
Aim: To investigate vitamin D status among older women and to explore relationships between vitamin D and fracture risk and vertebral fractures. Methods: A total of 267 general practitioners recruited 2466 women aged >70 years with no known osteoporosis or fragility fracture. Serum 25‐hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), bone mineral density by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) and vertebral fracture on thoracolumbar X‐ray were determined. Results: A total of 2368 women, median age 76 years, provided data and of these 13% were on vitamin D supplements. 25(OH)D levels were available for 907 (44.1%) of those not taking vitamin D. 88.3% of these had a level below 75 nmol/L. Serum 25(OH)D was negatively associated with age (P = 0.003) and body mass index (P < 0.001), and positively associated with lower latitude, femoral neck DXA T‐score (P = 0.044) and being Caucasian (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The vitamin D status of community‐dwelling older Australian women is inadequate, yet the use of supplements is low.