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PubMed1979

[is there an osteomalacia component in femur neck fractures?].

In 29 patients with fractures of the femoral neck (group A) and 22 patients operated on for osteoarthritis of the hip (group) B), plasma levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3) were compared with the results of histological bone tests. A third group of 19 patients at the Geriatric hospital served as a control in this age group for 25-OH-D3 values (group C). The average level of 25-OH-D3 was 9.64 +/- 5.8 micrograms/l in group A and 13.25 +/- 7.6 micrograms/l in group B. This difference is not significant. On the other hand, the difference between groups B and C (9.31 +/- 4.04) is significant (2 p less than 0.05). Evaluation of the histological sections did not reveal evidence of osteomalacia. Generally speaking, the levels of plasma 25-OH-D3 in these patients were low, but without signs of osteomalacia on histological evaluation.

Aged↗

PubMed1977

[Study of vitamin D deficiencies in the aged].

Plasma levels of 25-hydroxycalciferol (25-OH-D) and the biological parameters of phosphocalcium metabolism were determined in 55 patients institutionalized in a geriatric hospital in Geneva. They were compared with two control groups, one of the same age and the other younger. The mean plasma 25-OH-D level of the hospitalized patients was 22.7 +/- SD 13.6 microgram/l, which is significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than the mean level obtained from both the control group of the same age (46.2 +/- SD 20.1 microgram/1 25-OH-D) and the control group of young subjects (48.6 +/- SD 16.8 microgram 25-OH-D/1). Among the 55 hospitalized patients, 27 (49%) had a deficient 25-OH-D plasma level lower than 20 microgram/1. Compared to the control group of the same age, the group of hospitalized subjects had lower mean plasma level of inorganic phosphate (27.1 +/- SD 4.34 mg/1; p less than 0.01) and an elevated mean plasma level of alkaline phosphatase (46.9 +/- SD 16.5 UI/1; p less than 0.005). For those 27 patients deficient in 25-OH-D, a positive correlation exists between the plasma values of 25-OH-D and the total calcium (r = 0.584). The high incidence of biological indicators of osteomalacia found in the group of hospitalized patients suggests that vitamin D deficiency is a current problem of the elderly in Switzerland necessitating a review of the prophylactic measures now in use.

Adult↗