RELATIONS BETWEEN CALCIDIOL SERUM LEVELS AND BONE-MINERAL DENSITY IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH LOW BONE-DENSITY

The relationship between vitamin D and bone density was studied in 150 selected, mature (45-74), postmenopausal women with a lumbar spine Z score below 0. Vitamin D status was evaluated using calcidiol serum le vels. Serum calcitriol and parathyroid hormone (PTH) values were also evaluated in some subjects. Bone mass was evaluated by ascertaining bo ne density and Z and T scores in the lumbar spine and femur region. Th e reference group consisted of 25 premenopausal women. The postmenopau sal group was divided into subgroups according to age, i.e., under or over 60 years old. Additionally, the whole group was also subdivided a ccording to their lumbar spine Z scores into group I(Z > -1), group II (Z < -1; > -2), and group III (Z < -2). Group III of postmenopausal w omen had higher PTH and lower calcitriol levels than premenopausal wom en. Calcidiol serum levels were lower in postmenopausal women groups I I or III than in the group I and premenopausal women. Calcidiol serum levels and the bone mass values for the lumbar spine were correlated p ositively in all the postmenopausal women; in the women over 60 years of age, calcidiol levels also correlated with the bone mass values exp ressed as the bone density in three femur regions: femoral neck, troca nter, and Ward's triangle. In conclusion, mature postmenopausal woman showed high PTH levels and low calcidiol and calcitriol values. Calcid iol status is significantly related to bone mineral density in the lum bar spine and in women over 60 years, calcidiol levels also correlated with bone density in the femur regions.