Relationships between bone mineral density, serum vitamin D metabolites and calcium: phosphorus intake in healthy perimenopausal women

Objectives, To determine the relationships between LB, Sorensen OH (Copenha gen Municipal Hospital, serum vitamin D metabolites, bone mass, and dietary calcium and phosphorus in a cohort of 510 healthy Danish perimenopausal wo men. Design. A population-based cross-sectional study, Subjects, A total of 510 healthy women aged 45-58 years, with amenorrhoea f or 3-24 months. None of the women was using hormone replacement therapy. Measurements, Measurements of total bone mineral content and regional bone mineral density were performed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Analyse s of serum levels of 25-OHD and 1,25(OH)(2), intact PTH, ionized calcium an d phosphate, as well as biochemical markers of bone turnover in blood and u rine. Assessment of calcium and phosphorus intake using dietary records. Results, A consistent inverse relationship between serum 1,25-(OH)(2)D and bone mineral content/density was found in whole-body mineral content (P = 0 .001), spine (P = 0.005) and femoral neck (P < 0.05). There was a positive relationship between levels of 1,25-(OH)(2)D and biochemical bone markers, indicating that high levels of 1,25-(OH)(2)D are accompanied by increased b one turnover. The dietary calcium:phosphorus ratio was inversely related to serum 1,25-(OH)(2)D (P = 0.04) and positively related to bone mineral dens ity (P < 0.0005), No relationships could be detected between levels of PTH, serum ionized calcium and phosphate, and serum vitamin D metabolites. Conclusion, Within normal physiological range, elevated levels of 1,25-(OH) (2)D were associated with decreased bone mineral density and content, reduc ed calcium:phosphorus ratio in the diet and increased bone turnover.