Healthy lookig hospital nurses showing vitamin D deficiency: correlation of vitamin D levels with their levels of parathyroid hormone and bone turnover markers

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the correlation of low vitamin D levels with parathyroid hormone [PTH] levels and bone turn over markers among apparently healthy hospital nurses. Screening was done on 50 recruited healthy female nursing staff, aged between 18 to 35 years, for vitamin D levels. Among them 31 were found to be deficient in vitamin D. These 31 nurses were selected for further evaluation in trance. Their vitamin D levels were calculated by using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Blood samples were drawn to estimate serum PTH levels accordingly. Samples were also collected from these recruited subjects to evaluate their bone turn over markers, including, osteocalcin, procollagen type 1 N propeptide and Beta-Crosslaps. Out of 50 subjects, 31 subjects were found to have Vitamin D levels below 50 nmol/l. Out of these 31 subjects, 13 subjects, 41.9%, showed vitamin D levels below 20 nmol/l. Among these 13 subjects, all had significantly raised PTH levels [p-value <0.001, r-value -0.781]. In rest of all the subjects, including those having Vitamin D levels above 20nmol/l, inordinately, PTH levels were normal. No reciprocity was found between low Vitamin D and raised M'H levels with bone turnover markers, except with PlNP [r-value 0.022]. PTH levels show a steep augmentation in serum, when vitamin D levels ht the trough below 20 nmol/l. These are the subjects who should be treated prior to the development of complications of bone resorption. Moreover we could not find any significant correlation of Vitamin D and PTH with any bone turnover marker except PlNP