Quality of life is impaired not only in vitamin D deficient but also in vitamin D-insufficient pre-menopausal women

J Endocrinol Invest. 2013 Sep;36(8):622-7. doi: 10.3275/8898. Epub 2013 Mar 19.

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D deficiency may be more common in pre-menopausal women than previously thought and it may impair quality of life (QoL).

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate QoL in pre-menopausal women with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency.

Subjects and methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which subjects were enrolled between September 1st and November 30th, 2011. Healthy premenopausal women with weakness, fatigue and non-specific pain were assigned into three groups according to their 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels: ≤20 ng/ml (vitamin D deficient, no.=30), 21-29 ng/ml (vitamin D insufficient, no.=30) and ≥30 ng/ml (vitamin D sufficient, no.=20). Short form-36 (SF- 36) scores, age, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and PTH levels were compared among the groups and correlations of SF-36 scores with age, serum 25-OHD, Ca, P, and PTH were done.

Results: There were significant differences among the groups with regard to PTH (p=0.008), physical component score (p=0.02), mental component score (p=0.035), physical functioning score (p=0.0001), and vitality score (p=0.05). Apart from PTH and physical functioning score, the results were significant when vitamin D-insufficient and -sufficient women were compared. Serum 25-OHD, but not PTH was correlated with some of the scales of SF-36.

Conclusions: Some components of QoL are impaired not only in vitamin D deficient but also in insufficient pre-menopausal women, and impairment is related to 25-OHD rather than PTH levels.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Calcium / blood
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Menopause
  • Parathyroid Hormone / blood
  • Quality of Life*
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / psychology

Substances

  • Parathyroid Hormone
  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • Calcium