Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction

Vitamin D plays an important role in human physiology. It is synthesis mainly by the skin during sun exposure. Elderly population are at risk to develop vitamin D deficiency caused by many factors (reduced sunlight exposure, impaired skin synthesis and hydroxylation in the liver and kidney as well as decreased dietary intake and impaired intestinal absorption).

Aim

The purpose of the study was to assess the status of vitamin D across the different seasons among elderly population.

Material and methods

The study group comprised 152 patients above 60 years, hospitalized in the geriatric department. The samples was collected between 2013–2015. Each individual provided consent before included to the study. Blood samples were collected after overnight fasting. The serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (ng/ml) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The study group was divided into four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter).

Results

Mean age of participant were 76.24 ± 7.47 years. The mean 25(OH)D level among study group was 14.61 ± 5.96 ng/ml. The mean serum of vitamin D during particular seasons was: 15.54 ± 5.31 ng/ml (spring), 16.33 ± 7.40 ng/ml (summer), 14.14 ± 5.08 ng/ml (autumn) and 14.03 ± 4.28 ng/ml (winter). There was no statistically differences (P = 0.3450). Most of the patients had vitamin D deficiency – 83.20%. 16.80% study group had suboptimal vitamin D level. In the spring, autumn and winter, vitamin D deficiency was observed among 87.50%, 86.40% and 86.70% group. The proportion of suboptimal vitamin D level was higher in the summer (25.0%) as compared with the other seasons. We observed also that the mean serum of 25(OH)D level among respective months was not statistically significant differences (P = 0.2655).

Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency was observed in examined study group, in spite of the seasons. There is no significant differences in mean serum vitamin D concentration among patients across the seasons. Anyway, a proper vitamin D supplementation should be recommended and implemented alongside any elderly person’s daily diet.