DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i07.032

Pages: 2655-2658

Vitamin D deficiency is pandemic, yet it is the most under-diagnosed and under-treated nutritional deficiency in the world. Paucity of literature on vitamin D status in population more than 50 years of age also warrants this study. The aim is to assess the vitamin D status in individuals above 50 years of age and to study correlation of Vitamin D Levels with Biochemical parameters among them. The current study was conducted by the Department of Biochemistry of a tertiary care teaching hospital of western Uttar Pradesh. The study was carried in population more than 50 years of age. A total of 722 individuals were recruited from the field practice area of this medical college. Purposive sampling method was adopted. Vitamin D deficiency [VDD, serum 25(OH)D levels < 20 ng/ml) was present in 91.87% subjects studied. Weight and BMI decreased with age. Serum phosphorus decreased in males with age compared to females with age. PTH levels also decreased with age. VDD was present in 497 (91.87%) subjects and 90.61% aged ≥65 years. The prevalence of Vitamin D Insufficiency was found to be 6.84% subjects aged 50 - <65 years and 6.63% aged ≥65 years. Majority (45.08%) of subjects had moderate VDD. Age, calcium and phosphorus correlated positively with serum 25(OH)D levels. Serum 25(OH)D levels had negative correlation with PTH levels, ALP and BMI. Vitamin D deficiency is rampant in individuals aged ≥50 weather there is intake of vitamin D supplements or not. Absence of a PTH response was observed in more than 50% of individuals with VDD, the cause of which warrants further probe.