IOF Logo Vitamin D seems to play an important role in preventing hip fractures. New Delhi scientists assert that three quarters of hip fracture incidences occur among patients who are vitamin D deficient. It was suggested that vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for hip fracture. Vitamin D levels can probably serve as a useful index for the assessment of hip fracture risk in elderly people.

The study was initiated on 90 patients with hip fracture and a matched control group having similar age, sex and co-morbidity. Scientists compared results of both the groups with each other. It appeared that among patients with hip fractures, 76.7 percent were vitamin D deficient as measured by serum 25(OH)D levels of less than 20 ng/ml. Also this group reported a 68.9 percent increase in PTH levels.

The control group was registered with 32.3 percent lacking vitamin D and 42.2 percent had heightened PTH levels. Authors linked vitamin D deficiency with the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. It is believed that vitamin D is considerably involved in muscle strength, certain cancers, multiple sclerosis as well as diabetes. Indian population of all age groups apparently has very low vitamin D levels due to skin pigmentation, traditional clothing and sunlight avoidance. It was alleged that serum 25 (OH)D levels can be a beneficial index for evaluating risk of hip fracture in elderly people.

The study was published in Osteoporosis International.