Early-onset climacterium is not associated with impaired vitamin D status: a population-based study

• Published in: Menopause (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 28; no. 8; p. 899
• Main Authors: Lumme, Johanna E, Savukoski, Susanna M, Suvanto, Eila T J, Pesonen, Paula R O, Auvinen, Juha P, Sebert, Sylvain, Hyppönen, Elina, Järvelin, Marjo-Riitta, Puukka, Katri S, Herzig, Karl-Heinz, Oura, Petteri, Ojaniemi, Marja, Niinimäki, Maarit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2021
• Subjects: Cross-Sectional Studies; Dietary Supplements; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency - complications; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Vitamins
• ISSN: 1530-0374
• DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001781

To investigate vitamin D status in women with the onset of the climacteric phase by age 46 as both early menopause and inadequate vitamin D status may increase the risk of adverse health outcomes. A cross-sectional study included 2,544, 46-year-old women from a birth cohort. Women were divided into the following two groups according to their menstrual history and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration: 1) climacteric (FSH ≥25 IU/L and amenorrhea ≥4 mo, n = 351) and 2) preclimacteric women (FSH <25 IU/L and having regular/irregular menstrual cycles, n = 2,193). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were compared between the groups. A linear regression model was performed to investigate which factors are associated with 25(OH)D status. Mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations were higher in climacteric compared with preclimacteric women (68.1 ± 19.8 nmol/L vs 65.2 ± 19.3 nmol/L, P = 0.01). However, in the linear regression model, climacteric status was not associated with 25(OH)D status (multivariable adjusted mean difference 4.5 nmol/L, 95% confidence interval -1.4 to 10.4, P = 0.137). A total of 76 of the climacteric women were using systemic estrogen hormone therapy (HT). In a subanalysis, including only climacteric women, the use of HT was associated with higher 25(OH)D status (multivariable adjusted mean difference 5.9 nmol/L, 95% confidence interval 1.3-10.5, P = 0.013). The onset of the climacteric phase by age 46 was not associated with inadequate 25(OH)D concentrations, whereas HT use was associated with higher 25(OH)D status in women with early-onset climacterium.