Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Communication
  • Published:

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

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 337–342 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin D in urban populations of healthy elderly people living at home, in different regions of Argentina.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Subjects: In total, 386 ambulatory subjects over 65 y of age from seven cities (between latitude 26°S and 55°S) were asked to participate between the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Of these, 369 accepted, 30 were excluded because of medical history or abnormal biochemical determinations. Finally, 339 subjects (226 women and 113 men) (X±s.d.) (71.3± 5.2 y) were included.

Results: Serum 25OHD levels were lowest in the South (latitude range: 41°S–55°S): 14.2±5.6 ng/ml (P<0.0001vs North and Mid regions); highest in the North (26°S–27°S): 20.7±7.4 ng/ml (P<0.03 vs Mid, P<0.0001vs South); and intermediate in the Mid region (33°S–34°S) 17.9±8.2 ng/ml. Serum mid-molecule PTH (mmPTH) and 25OHD were inversely related: (r=−0.24, P<0.001). A cutoff level of 25OHD at which serum mmPTH levels began to increase was established at 27 ng/ml. A high prevalence (87–52%) of subjects with 25OHD levels in the deficiency-insufficiency range (25OHD levels <20 ng/ml) was detected.

Conclusion: This study shows that vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in the elderly is a worldwide problem. Correction of this deficit would have a positive impact on bone health of elderly people.

Sponsorship: Asociación Argentina de Osteología y Metabolismo Mineral (AAOMM).

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bouillon RA, Aurweerch MD, Lissens WD & Pelemans WK (1987): Vitamin D status in the elderly, seasonal substrate deficiency causes 1,25(OH)2 cholecalciferol defficiency. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 45, 755–763.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brazier M, Kamel S, Malmer M, Aghomson F, Elesper I, Garabedian M, Desmet G, & Sebert JL (1995): Markers of bone remodeling in the elderly subject: effect of vitamin D insufficiency and its correction. J. Bone Miner. Res. 10, 1753–1761.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carnevale V, Modoni S, Pileri M, Di Giorgio A, Chiodini I, Minisola R, Vieth R, & Scillitani A (2001): Longitudinal evaluation of vitamin D status in healthy subjects from Southern Italy: seasonal and gender difference. Osteoporosis Int. 12, 1026–1030.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapuy MC, Arlot ME, Duboef F, Brun J, Crouzet B, Arnaud S, Delmas PD & Meunier PJ (1992): Vitamin D3 and calcium to prevent hip fractures in elderly women. N. Eng. J. Med. 327, 1637–1642.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapuy MC, Schott AM, Garnero P, Hans D, Delmas PD & Meunier PJ (1996): Healthy elderly French women living at home have secondary hyperparathyroidism and high turnover in winter. J. Clin. Endocrinol. 81, 1129–1133.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapuy MC, Preziosi P, Maamer M, Arnaud S, Galan P, Hereberg S & Meunier PJ (1997): Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in an adult normal population. Osteoporosis Int. 7, 439–443.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapuy MC, Pamphile R, Paris E, Kempf C, Schlichyting S, Arnaud G, Garnero P & Meunieur PJ (2002): Combined calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation in elderly women: confirmation of reversal of secondary hyperparathyroidism and hip fracture risk: the Decalyos II study. Osteoporosis Int. 13, 257–264.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clemens MR, Johnson L & Fraser DR (1987): A new mechanism for induced vitamin D deficiency in calcium deprivation. Nature 325, 62–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson-Hughes B, Harris A, Krall E & Dallal G (1997): Effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on bone density in men and women 65 years of age or older. N. Eng. J. Med. 337, 670–676.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson-Hughes B, Harris A & Dallal G (1997): Plasma calcidiol, season and PTH concentration in healthy elderly men and women. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 65, 67–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gloth FM, Gunberg CM, Hollis BW, Haddad JG & Tobin JD (1995): Vitamin D deficiency in homebound elderly persons. JAMA 274, 1683–1686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fradinger EE & Zanchetta JR (2001): Vitamin D and bone mineral density in ambulatory women living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Osteoporosis Int. 12, 24–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haden ST, Fuleihan GEH, Angell JE, Cotran NM & LeBoff MS (1999): Calcidiol and PTH levels in women attending an osteoporosis Program. Calcif. Tissue. Int. 64, 275–279.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heaney RP, Davies KM Chen TC, Holick MF & Barger-Lux MJ (2003): Serum 25 hydroxy cholecalciferol response to oral dosing with cholecalciferol vitamin D doses response relationships. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 133, 204–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holick MF (2002). Vitamin D: the underappreciated D-lligthful Hormone. That is—important for skeletal and cellular health. Curr. Opinion. Endocrinol. Diabetes. 9, 87–98.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inderjeeth Ca, Nickalson F, Al-Lahham Y, Greenaway TM, Jones G, Parameswaran VV & David R (2000): Vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism: clinical and biochemical associations in older non-institutionalised Southern Tasmanians. Aust. N. Z. J. Med. 30, 209–214.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ladizesky M, Oliveri MB & Mautalen C (1987). Niveles séricos de 25–hidroxi-vitamina D en la población normal de Buenos Aires. Su variación estacional. Medicina (Buenos Aires) 47, 268–272.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ladizesky M, Lu Z, Oliveri B, San Román N, Holick M & Mautalen C (1995): Solar ultraviolet B radiation and photoproduction of vitamin D in Central and Southern areas of Argentina. J. Bone Miner. Res. 10, 545–554.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Le Boff Ms, Kohlmer L, Hewitz S, Franklin J, Wright J & Glowacki J (1999): Occult vitamin D deficiency in postmenopausal women with acute hip fracture. JAMA 281, 1505–1511.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mc Kenna M (1992): Differences in vitamin D status between countries in young adults and the elderly. Am. J. Med. 93, 69–77.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mc Kenna MJ & Freaney R (1998): Secondary hyperparathyroidism in the elderly: means to defining hypovitaminosis D. Osteoporosis Int. 8 (Suppl 2), 3–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melin AL, Wilske J, Ringertz H & Sääf M (1999): Vitamin D status, parthyroid function and femoral bone density in an elderly Swedish population living at home. Aging Clin. Exp. Res. 11, 200–207.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Need AG, Horowitz M, Morris HA & Nordin BEC (2000): Vitamin D status: effects on parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in postmenopausal women. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 71, 1577–1581.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Need AG, O'Loughlin PD, Jesudason DR & Nordin BEC (2002): Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D level required to minimize bone resorption in postmenopausal women. J. Bone Miner. Res. 17 (Supll 1), S218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveri MB, Ladizesky M, Somoza J, Martínez L & Mautalen C (1990): Niveles séricos invernales de 25-hidroxi-vitamina D en Ushuaia y Buenos Aires. Medicina (Buenos Aires) 50, 310–314.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveri MB, Ladizesky M, Sotelo A, Griffo S, Ballesteros G & Mautalen C (1991): Nutritional Rickets in Argentina. In Nestlé Nutrition Workshops: Rickets, Vol 21, pp 233–224. New York: Raven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveri MB, Ladizesky M, Mautalen C, Alonso A & Martinez L (1993a): Seasonal variations of 25 hydroxyvitaminD, 1,25 dihydroxyvitaminD and parathyroid hormone in Ushuaia (Argentina) the southernmost city of the world. Bone Miner 20, 99–108.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveri MB, Mautalen C, Alonso A, Velazquez H, Trouchot HA, Porto R, Martinez L & Barata AD (1993b): Estado nutricional de vitamina D en madres y neonatos de Ushuaia y Buenos Aires. Medicina (Buenos Aires) 53, 315–320.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveri MB, Mautalen C, Bustamante L & Goméz García V (1994): Serum levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D a year of residence in the Antarctic Continent. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 48, 397–401.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ooms ME, Lips P, Roos JC, van der Vijgh WJF, Popp Snijders C, Bezemer D & Bouter LM (1995): Vitamin D status and sex hormone binding globulin: determinants of bone turnover and bone mineral density in elderly women. J. Bone Miner. Res. 10, 1177–1184.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parfitt AM, Gallagher JC, Heaney RP, Jonson CG, Neer P & Whedom G (1982): Vitamin D and bone disease in elderly. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 36, 1014–1031.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peacock M, Selby PL, Francis RM, Brown WB & Horden L (1985): Vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency and intoxication: What do they mean? In Vitamin D: Chemical, biochemical and Clinical update, eds AW Norman, K Schaefer, HG Grigoleit, D Herrat, pp 569–570, Berlin: Walter de Gruiter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plantalech L, Knoblovits P, Cambiasso E, Balzaretti M, Oyamburu J, Bonetto A, Signorelli C, Fainstein I & Gutman R (1997): Hipovitaminosis D en ancianos institucionalizados de Buenos Aires. Medicina (Buenos Aires) 57, 29–35.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Standing Comittee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary reference Intakes (1998): Dietary References Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D and Fluoride. pp 71–287, Washington DC: National Academic Press.

  • Thomas MK, Lloyd-Jones DM, Thadani RI, Shaw AC, Deraska DJ, Kitch BT, Vamvakase C, Dick IM, Prince RL & Finkelstein JS (1998): Hypovitaminosis D in medical inpatients. N. Engl. J. Med. 338, 777–783.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van der Wielen RP, Lowl MRH, van der Berg H, de Groot L, Haller J, Moreiras O & van Staveren WA (1995): Serum 25OHD concentrations among elderly people in Europe. Lancet 346, 207–210.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeni S, Witthich A, Di Gregorio S, Casco C, Oviedo A, Somoza J, Gómez Acotto C, Bagur A, Gónzalez D, Portela M & Mautalen C (2001): Utilidad clínica de los marcadores de formación y resorción ósea. Acta Bioquím. Clín. 35, 3–36.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. M Ladizesky and S Zeni: Researcher of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET).

  2. M S Parisi: Fellow of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET).

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sección Osteopatías Médicas, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    B Oliveri, A Bagur, M Ladizesky, J Somoza, C Casco, S Zeni, M S Parisi & C A Mautalen

  2. Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    L Plantalech

  3. Hospital Centro de Salud Tucumán, Argentina

    A C Wittich

  4. Corrientes, Argentina

    G Rovai

  5. Mendoza, Argentina

    E Pusiol

  6. Bariloche, Argentina

    J López Giovanelli

  7. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Argentina

    G Ponce

  8. Centro de Estudios de Osteoporosis Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina

    A Nieva

  9. Sanatorio San Jorge Ushuaia, Argentina

    A Chaperón

Authors
  1. B Oliveri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L Plantalech
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A Bagur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A C Wittich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G Rovai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. E Pusiol
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. J López Giovanelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. G Ponce
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. A Nieva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. A Chaperón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. M Ladizesky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. J Somoza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. C Casco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. S Zeni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. M S Parisi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. C A Mautalen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Guarantor: Beatriz Oliveri.

Contributors: BO, LP and AB took part in the protocol design, and writing and editing of the report. ML took part in the protocol design. CM took part in the writing and editing of the report. MSP carried out statistical analysis and participated in writing the report. AW, GR, EP, JLG, GP, AN and AC participated in recruiting the patients and analyzing their data. SZ, CC and JS provided the biochemical intervention.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B Oliveri.

Additional information

Research Comitée of the Asociación Argentina de Osteología y Metabolismo Mineral (AAOMM)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oliveri, B., Plantalech, L., Bagur, A. et al. High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in healthy elderly people living at home in Argentina. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 337–342 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601786

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601786

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links