Vitamin D status in Bulgaria—winter data

• Published in: Archives of osteoporosis 2013-12, Vol.8 (1-2), p.133-133, Article 133
• Main Authors: Borissova, A.-M., Shinkov, A., Vlahov, J., Dakovska, L., Todorov, T., Svinarov, D., Kassabova, L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bulgaria - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Endocrinology; Female; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Original Article; Orthopedics; Parathyroid Hormone - blood; Prevalence; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1862-3522; 1862-3514
• DOI: 10.1007/s11657-013-0133-4

Summary We assume that 25(OH)D level >50 nmol/l is necessary for adequate parathyroid hormone (PTH) suppression in our population. The epidemiology of vitamin D status in Bulgarian population shows deficiency in 21.3 %, insufficiency in 54.5 % and sufficiency in 24.2 %. The mean level of 25(ОН)D for the Bulgarian population is 38.75 nmol/l (95 % CI, 38.00–39.49). Purpose The aim of the present study was to investigate the vitamin D levels in Bulgaria and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency depending on gender and age, as well as to define population-specific 25(OH)D sufficiency thresholds through the relationship with PTH. Material and method This cross-sectional study was conducted in January–February 2012 and included 2,032 subjects in 12 regions—1,076 women (53 %) and 956 men (47 %), mean age 49.30 ± 14.75 years (20–80 years), divided into three age groups: young (20–44 years, n  = 894), middle-aged (45–59 years, n  = 534), and elderly (≥60 years, n  = 604). 25(OH)D and PTH were measured in all subjects. Results The mean level of 25(ОН)D was 38.75 nmol/l (95 % CI, 38.00–39.49). The men had significantly higher 25(ОН)D levels in comparison to women (41.51 nmol/l (95 % CI, 40.45–42.56) vs.36.29 nmol/l (95 % CI, 35.27–37.32), p