Vitamin D deficiency in risk groups living in tropical Curaçao

Curaçao (12 degrees 10ON, 69 degrees OW) is characterized by whole year abundant sunshine (8-10 hours/day). We challenged the automatic assumption that people living in tropical countries do not have a high risk of vitamin D deficiency, and investigated the vitamin D status in a tropical environment...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inWest Indian medical journal Vol. 62; no. 3; p. 195
Main Authors Leenders, T J M, van Eijndhoven, F H A, van der Veer, E, Muskiet, F A J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Jamaica 01.03.2013
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Calcitriol - blood
Calcium - blood
Creatinine - blood
Female
Home Care Services
Homes for the Aged
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Netherlands Antilles - epidemiology
Nursing Homes
Parathyroid Hormone - blood
Phosphates - blood
Rehabilitation Centers
Risk
Sunlight
Vitamin D - analogs & derivatives
Vitamin D - blood
Vitamin D Deficiency - blood
Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology
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Summary:Curaçao (12 degrees 10ON, 69 degrees OW) is characterized by whole year abundant sunshine (8-10 hours/day). We challenged the automatic assumption that people living in tropical countries do not have a high risk of vitamin D deficiency, and investigated the vitamin D status in a tropical environment. For this, we selected fifty-two elderly people with little or no exposure to direct sunlight [median 84 (60-96) years; 34females, 18 males] and who were cared for by community nurses or lived in retirement or nursing homes. Furthermore, six rehabilitating orthopaedic patients [median 72 (38-90) years; one female, five males] were included. Serum 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and creatinine were measured. Those exhibiting elevated creatinine, PTH or both had their 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] examined. Serum levels of 25(OH)D below 25, 50 and 75 nmol/L were detected in, respectively, seven (12%), 22 (38%) and 48 (83%) ofthe fifty-eight persons. Four persons had combined high creatinine and PTH, and low 1,25(OH)2D, which was not known by their caregivers. Abundant sunshine outdoors is no guarantee for vitamin D sufficiency. More attention is needed for vitamin D deficiency in risk groups living in tropical areas and elderly persons with poor kidney function.
ISSN:0043-3144
DOI:10.727/wimj.2012.196