STATUS OF SERUM VITAMIN D IN PRE MENOPAUSAL INDIAN WOMEN

Vitamin D promotes absorption of calcium in the intestine as well as renal tubules and maintains adequate levels of calcium and phosphate in serum to maintain normal bone mineralization and prevents osteoporosis. This vitamin can be produced endogenously when ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight hit the skin and promotes its synthesis [1]. Deficiency of this vitamin is common in India, the rate of prevalence range from 40 – 90 percent [2]! Geographically India is partly tropical and subtropical and receives sunlight round the year. More than 30ng/mL was the biological reference interval for vitamin D but it was derived from western population and it is using by the diagnostic laboratories across the country. Because of this scale majority of healthy individuals shows insufficient Vitamin D levels [3].

Objectives: To assess the status of vitamin D in the premenopausal women. To evolve a reference range in Indian sub-population and to correlate the findings with the reference interval established by National institutes of health (NIH), USA.

Methodology: A cross sectional study consisting of 127 adult pre-menopausal women (29 – 45 years of age) was conducted. Their total Vitamin D levels were measured by Chemiluminescence immunoassay technique.

Result: 26 ± 8.5ng/mL was the biological reference interval (BRI) for Vitamin D, established by NIH but the in-house obtained BRI was 18.2 ± 11.5ng/mL. The obtained BRI was significantly decreased (p <0.001) than NIH established values.

Conclusion: 18.2 ± 11.5ng/mL of Serum Vitamin D was observed in the adult premenopausal Indian sub population.