McCarthy D, Collins A, O'Brien M, Lamberg-Allardt C, Jakobsen J, Charzewska J, Kiely M, Flynn A, Cashman KD.

2006

April

Irish Journal of Medical Science

Vitamin D intake and status in Irish elderly women and adolescent girls

Validated

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PARATHYROID-HORMONE CONCENTRATIONS D DEFICIENCY D SUPPLEMENTATION SECONDARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN HYPOVITAMINOSIS-D FINNISH GIRLS BONE OSTEOPOROSIS POPULATION

175

14

20

Aim To assess vitamin D status during summer and winter in Irish girls and elderly women, and to estimate vitamin D intake in these two age-groups.Methods Ambulatory free-living, elderly Irish women (aged 70-76 years; n = 43) and girls (aged 11-13 years; n = 17) were recruited. Fasting serums were collected during August/ September 2002 and February/March 2003 and analysed for 25 (OH) D by HPLC.Results Mean daily intakes of vitamin D were 4.6 mu g and 2.1 mu g in elderly women and girls, respectively Serum 25 (OH) D was significantly lower (P<0.001) during winter than summer in both age-groups. Eight (20%) and one (during late summer) and sixteen (37.2%) and eight (47%) (during late winter) of the elderly women and girls, respectively had inadequate vitamin D status (serum 25 (OH) D <40 nmol/l).Conclusion Inadequate vitamin D status during wintertime is quite common in elderly women and adolescent girls in Ireland.