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© 1995 Oxford University Press

research-article

Are Elderly Asians in Britain at a High Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency and Osteomalacia?

T. SOLANKI*, R. H. HYATT, J. R. KEMM, E. A. HUGHES and R. A. COWAN

Selly Oak Hospital Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 1JD
Sandwell District General Hospital London, West Bromwich B71 4HJ
University of Birmingham Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT
University Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Royal Infirmary Glasgow G4 OSF

*Present address: Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, Somerset TA1 5DA.

Many studies have shown the indigenous elderly population and Asian immigrants to be groups at particular risk of vitamin D deficiency and osteomalacia, but there are no data on the risks in elderly Asians. In this community-based study a group of elderly Asians was compared with control groups of elderly and young whites and young Asians. Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD3) were significantly lower (p< 0.0001) in elderly Asians (21/37) and young Asians (7/17) compared with white controls. The difference in parathyroid hormone (PTH) between Asians and whites was also significant (p < 0.0007) as was that between young and old (p< 0.0002). Abnormal PTH and 25-OHD3 (high PTH and low 25-OHD3), indicative of a high risk of osteomalacia, occurred in 22% of elderly Asians compared with 6% of elderly whites. The calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase were normal in all individuals. Among the Asians, vegetarianism was not related to lower 25-OHD3 levels. Symptoms suggestive of osteomalacia were more common (p<0.05) in elderly Asians than in their white counterparts.

This first study of 25-OHD3 levels in community-resident elderly Asians suggests that more than half were low, placing them at a significantly higher risk of osteomalacia.


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