Vitamin D deficiency may lead to muscle weakness and poor bone health. According to a report by scientists at the University of Missouri, trauma patients apparently possessed inadequate amounts of vitamin D in their bodies.
The medical records of nearly 1,830 adult orthopaedic patients were reviewed by experts. Almost 39% of all the patients seemed to be vitamin D deficient, while 38.4% possessed insufficient proportions of vitamin D. Volunteers who were in the age-group of 18 to 25 supposedly had the lowest manifestation of vitamin D deficiency or inadequacy. However, about 29% of people in this group were deficient and 54.7% appeared to be insufficient. Cumulatively, 77% of trauma patients presumably had deficient or insufficient proportions of vitamin D.
“Vitamin D deficiency affects patients of all ages and is more prevalent than we thought it was. The findings are important as vitamin D deficiency has been linked to increased incidences of fracture nonunions (bone breaks that fail to heal),†explained Brett D. Crist, MD, lead investigator and co-director of the Orthopaedic Trauma Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri.
The findings show that vitamin D levels need to be constantly monitored among patients undergoing treatment for leg fractures. They need to be exposed to vitamin D supplementation for attaining appropriate bone health, the scientists believe. Importantly, children need 400 to 800IUs and adults need 1,000IUs of vitamin D for optimal health.
This study was presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).