Background/Aim. Despite vitamin D insufficiency being widely reported, in
Serbia the epidemiological data lack information regarding vitamin D status
in the sera of postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to establish
the prevalence of inadequate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]
concentrations in postmenopausal Serbian women with seasonal variations of
25(OH)D, in relation to parathyroid hormone (PTH) and bone mineral density
(BMD). Methods. A total of 95 postmenopausal women, mean age 65.1 ? 9.08
years, were examined. Measurements of 25(OH)D and PTH were performed both in
the winter and the summer period, using electrochemiluminiscence
immunoassays. BMD (g/cm2) was measured by the dualenergy x-Ray absortimetry
(DXA) method on the spine and hip areas. Results. A decreased value of
vitamin D (< 75 nmol/L) in 88.4% of postmenopausal women and an elevated
level of PTH (> 65 pg/mL) in 25.3% of the cases were found. Elevated PTH
varied individually, but was mostly increased if 25(OH)D was equal or lower
than 37.6 nmol/L. 25(OH)D insufficiency was found in winter in 94.5% and in
summer in 80% of the cases (p < 0.01). The mean of the PTH was higher (p <
0.05) in winter than in summer. A significant negative correlation between
25(OH)D and PTH (p < 0.001) was proved. Correlation between 25(OH)D and PTH
with BMD at lumbar spine was established in the whole group, but at the
femoral neck in women aged over 65 years (p < 0.05). Conclusion. Our results
showed a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (88.4%) among
postmenopausal women. The levels of 25(OH)D and PTH changed significantly
according to the season.
Effects of Abaloparatide, a Human Parathyroid Hormone-Related Peptide Analog, on Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis