ORIGINAL COMMUNICATION High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in healthy elderly people living at home in Argentina

Sanatorio San JorgeUshuaia, ArgentinaObjective: To evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin D in urban populations of healthy elderly people living at home, indifferent regions of Argentina.Design: Cross-sectional study.Subjects: In total, 386 ambulatory subjects over 65y of age from seven cities (between latitude 261S and 551S) were asked toparticipate between the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Of these, 369 accepted, 30 were excluded because ofmedical history or abnormal biochemical determinations. Finally, 339 subjects (226 women and 113 men) (X7s.d.) (71.375.2y) were included.Results: Serum 25OHD levels were lowest in the South (latitude range: 411S–551S): 14.275.6ng/ml (Po0.0001vs North and Midregions); highest in the North (261S–271S): 20.777.4ng/ml (Po0.03 vs Mid, Po0.0001vs South); and intermediate in the Midregion(331S–341S) 17.978.2ng/ml. Serum mid-molecule PTH (mmPTH) and 25OHD were inverselyrelated:(r¼ 0.24, Po0.001).A cutoff level of25OHDat which serum mmPTH levelsbegan to increasewas established at27ng/ml. A highprevalence(87–52%)of subjects with 25OHD levels in the deficiency-insufficiency range (25OHD levels o20ng/ml) was detected.Conclusion: This study shows that vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in the elderly is a worldwide problem. Correction of thisdeficit would have a positive impact on bone health of elderly people.Sponsorship: Asociacio´n Argentina de Osteologi´a y Metabolismo Mineral (AAOMM).European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004) 58, 337–342. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601786