Women's Health and Vitamin D

 

 

 

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone precursor that is mainly produced in the skin by exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D is biologically inert and must undergo hydroxylation steps to become active.1 Our body can only synthesize vitamin D3. Vitamin D2 is taken up with fortified food or given by supplements. Physiologically, vitamin D3 and D2 are bound to the vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) in plasma and transported to the liver to become 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D (25-OH)). As vitamin D (25-OH) represents the major storage form, its blood concentration is used to assess the overall vitamin D status. More than 95 % of vitamin D (25-OH), measurable in serum, is vitamin D3 (25-OH) whereas vitamin D2 (25-OH) reaches measurable levels only in patients taking vitamin D2 supplements.1,2,3 Vitamin D is essential for bone health. In children, severe deficiency leads to rickets. In elderly, the risk of falling has been attributed to vitamin D deficiency due to muscle weakness. Moreover, low vitamin D (25-OH) concentrations are associated with lower bone mineral density. Insufficiency has also been linked to diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune diseases.1 The DiaSino 25-OH Vitamin D is intended for the quantitative determination of vitamin D (25-OH) in human serum, plasma, tissue homogenates and other biological fluids, as an aid in the assessment of vitamin D sufficiency.

 

The measurement of the 25OH Vitamin D concentration in serum or plasma is so far the best indicator of Vitamin D nutritional status. It is generally accepted that serum 25OH Vitamin D levels reflect the body’s storage levels of Vitamin D and correlate with the clinical symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency. There is no consensus about the optimal 25OH Vitamin D level, but many publications suggest a range ≥30 ng/mL (>80nmol/L) as optimal. Several population studies have identified widespread 25OH Vitamin D insufficiency (> 40% of the population) in apparent healthy populations. Paediatric reference intervals have not been established, but the American Association for Paediatrics (AAP) recommends a value of 20 ng/mL for healthy children.

 

Osteoporosis in women is a chronic bone disease, characterized by low bone mass and loss of bone tissue, affecting millions of people around the world. It increases the risk of fractures and can impact quality of life. By understanding the facts and getting tested, women can find out their risk and take action to protect their bones.

 

 

 

 

What every woman should know
 

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis happens when people lose too much bone, make too little bone, or both.
Osteoporosis causes bones to weaken and break easily.
Bone fractures from osteoporosis most commonly occur in the spine, hip, and wrist.

 

 

Who has Osteoporosis?

Over 200 million women suffer from osteoporosis worldwide.
One out of three women over 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture; for men it is one out of five.
The highest risks of hip fracture in the world are currently found in Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, and the U.S.
By 2050, Asia is expected to account for almost 50% of all global fractures.

 

What is the impact?

Osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million global bone fractures annually.

 

Osteoporosis accounts for more hospitalization days in women over the age of 45 than diabetes, heart attack and breast cancer.
By 2050, the global cost of osteoporosis is expected to exceed $130 billion.

 

What are the risk factors?

Low calcium and vitamin D intake
Gender
Anorexia
Family history
No or limited weight- bearing physical activity
Low sex-hormone levels 
Age
Ethnicity
Smoking, alcohol and some medicines (especially anti- depressants and corticosteroids)

 

Symptoms

Symptoms of Osteoporosis in Women
Symptoms of osteoporosis in women typically do not present themselves until a fracture occurs. Bone loss occurs gradually over a long period of time and does not cause pain.

 

 

Related Diseases and Conditions
Other conditions can be harmful to bone health. Rickets and osteomalacia caused by insufficient vitamin D in children and adults can cause fractures and bone deformities. Kidney disease (renal osteodystrophy) can cause fractures. Paget’s disease can cause bones to become deformed and weak. Genetic abnormalities (such as osteogenesis imperfecta) can cause abnormal bone growth susceptible to fractures. Endocrine disorders (such as overactive glands) can also lead to bone disease.

 

 

Solutions

Reducing the burden of bone disease in women includes understanding risk factors, making rapid, accurate diagnoses when symptoms occur, implementing appropriate therapies, and monitoring treatment. Laboratory diagnostic testing plays an integral role in helping care for women throughout the continuum of bone disease and of life.

 

 

 

 

Benefits of 25-OH Vitamin D testing

The measurement of the 25-OH Vitamin D concentration in serum or plasma is so far the best indicator of Vitamin D nutritional status. It is generally accepted that serum 25-OH Vitamin D levels reflect the body’s storage levels of Vitamin D and correlate with the clinical symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency. There is no consensus about the optimal 25-OH Vitamin D level, but many publications suggest a range ≥30 ng/mL (>80nmol/L) as optimal. Several population studies have identified widespread 25-OH Vitamin D insufficiency (> 40% of the population) in apparent healthy populations. Paediatric reference intervals have not been established, but the American Association for Paediatrics (AAP) recommends a value of 20 ng/mL for healthy children.

 

 

 

 

1. Holick, M.F. (2007). Vitamin D de ciency. N Engl J Med, 357:266-281.

2. Houghton, L.A., Vieth, R. (2006). The case against ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) as a vitamin supplement. Am J Clin Nutr, 84:694-697.

3. Hart, G.R., Furniss, J.L., Laurie, D., et al. (2006). Measurement of vitamin D Status: background, clinical use and methodologies. Clin Lab,

   52(7-8):335-343.