Document Type
Article
Department
Diabetes/Endocrinology and Metabolism
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of subclinical vitamin D deficiency in an ambulatory care setting.
METHODS: This was an observational study which measured 25 vitamin D levels in medical clinic patients. Patients with chronic renal failure, known osteomalacia and rickets were excluded. A total of 119 patients were evaluated. They were divided in three diagnostic categories based on their serum 25 vitamin D levels. Those with levels below 8 ng/ml were categorized to have severe deficiency, levels between 8 - 20 ng/ml as moderate deficiency and levels of 21-35 mg/ml as mild deficiency.
RESULTS: Of 119 patients, 92% had vitamin D deficiency. Their mean age was 44.3 +/- 18.3 years, with female to male ratio of 5:1. Sixty two percent (62%) had severe, 24% moderate and 8% had mild deficiency. Nearly half of all these patients (including those with severe deficiency) were asymptomatic. Whereas a low serum calcium, elevated phosphate and elevated alkaline phosphatase were reflective of severe deficiency. It was only an elevated iPTH that correlated with mild to moderate deficiency.
CONCLUSION: Subclinical vitamin D deficiency is extensive in the adult ambulatory care patients. Serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase are poor markers of moderate to mild deficiency. A serum 25 vitamin D level and an iPTH are better biofunctional markers of this deficiency.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
Recommended Citation
Zuberi, L.,
Habib, A.,
Haque, N.,
Jabbar, A.
(2008). Vitamin D Deficiency in ambulatory patients. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 58(9), 482-4.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_med_diabet_endocrinol_metab/9