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Vitamin D deficiency in Spain: a population-based cohort study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages 321–328 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background:

Vitamin D deficiency is common worldwide. No homogenous reference values have yet been established and no studies of values have been conducted in Spain involving a large number of participants.

Objective:

To study the population concentrations of vitamin D in a representative sample of the Spanish population.

Subjects/Methods:

The study involved two cohorts from Spain, the Asturias study and the Pizarra study, which are two prospective, population-based studies involving 2260 participants. In 1262 subjects (age: 20–83 years) we studied 25-hydroxyvitamin D, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium, phosphorus and creatinine.

Results:

The median population values of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and iPTH were 22.46 ng/ml and 42.29 pg/ml, respectively. The values of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were significantly higher in summer and correlated with age (β=−0.05±0.01, P<0.0001), creatinine (β=6.42±1.17, P<0.0001) and iPTH (−0.07±0.01, P<0.0001), but not with calcium, phosphorus or sex. The increase in iPTH with age was seen whatever the values of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and was greater in the older persons. The concentration of iPTH rose continuously with effect from 25-hydroxyvitamin D values below ≈30 ng/ml. Values above ≈35 ng/ml were associated with a significantly lower concentration of iPTH.

Conclusions:

One-third (33.9%) of the Spanish population may be at risk for Vitamin D deficiency. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D values above 30 ng/ml can safely discard ‘hyper PTH’. The increase in iPTH concentration is greater in older persons for similar values of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

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Acknowledgements

This study was conducted with finance from the Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria (PIO51307) and Junta de Andalucía (PIO258/2007, P06-CTS-01684) CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades metabólicas is an ISCII project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Regional Universitario Carlos Haya, Málaga, Spain

    I González-Molero, S Morcillo, S Valdés, G Olveira, G Rojo & F Soriguer

  2. Ciber de Diabetes y Metabolismo, Spain

    I González-Molero, S Morcillo, S Valdés, G Olveira, G Rojo, C Gutierrez-Repiso, E Rubio-Martín & F Soriguer

  3. Laboratorio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Carlos Haya, Málaga, Spain

    V Pérez-Valero

  4. Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Central de Asturias, Asturias, Spain

    P Botas, E Delgado & E Menéndez

  5. Servicio de Nefrología, Hospital Universitario Carlos Haya, Málaga, Spain

    D Hernández

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  1. I González-Molero
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Correspondence to I González-Molero.

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González-Molero, I., Morcillo, S., Valdés, S. et al. Vitamin D deficiency in Spain: a population-based cohort study. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 321–328 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.265

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