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© 1986 Oxford University Press

research-article

SEASONAL CHANGES IN THE BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN THE ELDERLY: A COMPARISON OF PEOPLE IN RESIDENTIAL HOMES, LONG-STAY WARDS AND ATTENDING A DAY HOSPITAL

M. DAVIES, Senior Lecturer in Medicine and Consultant Physician, E. B. MAWER, Senior Research Fellow, J. T. HANN, Research Assistant and J. L. TAYLOR, Consultant Physician (now retired)

Department of Medicine, Royal Infirmary Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL
Department of Medicine Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale

The seasonal changes in the biochemical indices of vitamin D nutrition have been measured in elderly people with differing requirements for institutionalized care. Residents of local authority homes (LAH) showed an increase in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] between spring and autumn (means 14–17 nmol/1, P<0.002). No significant seasonal changes were seen in patients on long-stay wards [(GW) serum 25(OH)D3 9.5 and 9.5 nmol/1] and in day-hospital attenders [(GDH) 25 and 26.8 nmol/1]. Significant differences (P<0.02 to P<0.0001) were found between the mean serum 25(OH)D3 amongst the three groups. A significant linear relationship (r=0.84, P=0.036) was found between mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D2[25(OH)D2] and dietary vitamin D2. The intake of vitamin D was suboptimal in all groups. The incidence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D<12.5 nmol/1] varied from 11.7% of residents in LAH in autumn to 47% of GW patients in spring; but hypocalcaemia occurred less often (LAH 1.3% in autumn, GW 4.7% in spring). The diet assumes a greater role in protecting against vitamin D deficiency when the total 25(OH)D is low. Because most diets contain insufficient amounts of vitamin D, elderly institutionalized people will remain at high risk of developing vitamin D deficiency unless specific preventative measures are adopted.

accepted in revised form August 6, 1985.


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