Original Article
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006) 60, 605–609. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602357; published online 14 December 2005
Effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on bone turnover in institutionalized adults with Down's Syndrome
Guarantors: P Zubillaga, A Garrido and JI Emparanza.
Contributors: IM, JA and RZ.
P Zubillaga1, A Garrido1, I Mugica1, J Ansa1, R Zabalza1 and J I Emparanza1
1Fundacion Uliazpi, Portu-Etxe 53, 20018 San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Correspondence: Dr P Zubillaga, Fundación Uliazpi, Bera-Bera94, 6° dcha., San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa 20009, Spain. E-mail: pzubillaga@telefonica.net
Received 5 April 2005; Revised 6 October 2005; Accepted 12 October 2005; Published online 14 December 2005.
Abstract
Objective:
To assess the status of vitamin D and the effects of calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation on the bone metabolism in a group of adults with Down's syndrome (DS).
Design:
Randomized, parallel, controlled and open clinical trial.
Setting:
Institution for mentally handicapped: Fundación Uliazpi, Diputación Foral de Guipúzcoa, San Sebastián, Spain.
Subjects:
A total of 23 persons with DS, residents at the Uliazpi Foundation were recruited and all completed the study.
Intervention:
In all, 12 participants were randomly allocated to receive 1 g of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D once daily for 1 year while 11 were assigned to the control group, receiving no supplementation.
Results:
We found no differences between groups regarding serum calcium and phosphorous levels. The remaining parameters showed differences between the two groups consistent with a beneficial effect of the intervention: serum levels of parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin and crosslaps diminished while serum 25 OH vitamin D3 level increased.
Conclusions:
The results obtained allow to include people with DS as a risk group with regards to vitamin D deficit, which that can be corrected with vitamin D and calcium supplementation, and giving rise to an improvement of the biochemical markers related to the phospho-calcium metabolism and bone remodelling.
Sponsorship:
This study was sponsored by de Uliazpi Foundation, a public entity devoted to the study and care of persons with intellectual disability who require extensive and pervasive support.
Keywords:
Down's syndrome, vitamin D deficiency, calcium, osteoporosis
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