Parathyroid hormone and magnesium levels in vitamin D deficient females

ABSTRACT

Vitamin D deficiency is a major health problem worldwide. In healthy subjects, vitamin D deficiency causes an increase in serum parathyroid hormone [PDH] level in response to hypocalcemia that in turn effectively restores serum calcium and phosphorus levels. However, the response in adult female in vitamin D deficient population in particular has not been studied especially in our set up. The objectives of this study were to determine the levels of iPTH and magnesium in vitamin D deficient adult females, among a sector of population living in a suburban area of Lahore. A total of 125 asymptomatic apparently healthy women [aged 20 - 60 years] were included in this study. Subjects were randomly selected from the Shalamar / Mughalpura area in Lahore. The research was started after taking permission from ethical committee of UHS. In a total of 125 subjects, 59 [47%] had deficient, 41 [33%] had insufficient and 25 [20%] had sufficient levels of vitamin D. The serum iPTH level in vitamin D deficient women was significantly higher and an inverse correlation existed between vitamin D and iPTH. Magnesium levels, on the other hand deteriorated only with severe deficiency of vitamin D. This study indicates that serum iPTH is a better marker of detection of low vitamin D states, as compared to serum calcium and phosphorus levels which remain normal. Furthermore, magnesium levels must be monitored in vitamin D deficiency because of its implications in bone metabolism, muscular and cardiac activity