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Effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on bone turnover in institutionalized adults with Down's Syndrome

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 605–609 (2006)Cite this article

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fundacion Uliazpi, Portu-Etxe 53, San Sebastián, 20018, Gipuzkoa, Spain

    P Zubillaga, A Garrido, I Mugica, J Ansa, R Zabalza & J I Emparanza

Authors
  1. P Zubillaga
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  2. A Garrido
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  3. I Mugica
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  4. J Ansa
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  5. R Zabalza
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  6. J I Emparanza
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P Zubillaga.

Additional information

Guarantors: P Zubillaga, A Garrido and JI Emparanza.

Contributors: IM, JA and RZ.

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Zubillaga, P., Garrido, A., Mugica, I. et al. Effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on bone turnover in institutionalized adults with Down's Syndrome. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 605–609 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602357

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602357

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