Impaired vitamin D metabolism in menopausal women

Abstract EN

Calcium absorption decreases with aging, particularly in xoomen after menopause.

The present study investigated the possibility of an associated abnormal vitamin D metabolism by studying 3 groups of women, 15 normal premenopausal young women (control group A), 15 nan osteoporotic menopausal women (group B), and 15 osteoporotic menopausal women (group C).

In the last two groups, the serum levels of 25(OH) D showed significant increase while the serum levels of l,25(OH)2 D (the physiologically active vitamin D metabolite) was lower in non osteoporotic menopausal women and such reduction was highly significant in osteoporotic menopausal women as compared to premenopausal young control group.

Also, the present study demonstrated that the serum levels of calcium and calcitonin hormone were significantly reduced in osteoporotic menopausal group, while serum phosphorus and parathormone hormone showed higher values in osteoporotic menopausal group as compared to premenopausal control and non osteoporotic menopausal groups.

Such results suggest an impaired metabolism of active vitamin D as a result of the estrogen deficiency associated with menopause resulting in a positive vicious circuit that leads to increase in bone loss.