Study: Half of Canadians with osteoporosis have insufficient levels of vitamin D

MERCKOct 19 2010

Results presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research held in Toronto reveals a potential gap in clinical practice

New data presented today at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2010 Annual Meeting held in Toronto, Ontario, demonstrated that approximately half of Canadians with osteoporosis have insufficient levels of vitamin D (less than 80 nmol/L), despite the fact that more than 40 per cent are prescribed at least 2800 IU of vitamin D per week. Further, the study revealed that physicians did not recommend increases in vitamin D supplementation in 47 per cent of patients with known insufficient levels (Vitamin D levels less than 80 nmol/L), highlighting a potential gap in care.

The study, ADVANCE (Assessing D vitamin to enhance osteoporosis care), consisted of a Canadian chart review  conducted by Dr _Jonathan D_Adachi and Dr Jacques_P. Brown to better understand how vitamin D levels are assessed and managed in Canadian patients with osteoporosis. Vitamin D is essential to the treatment of osteoporosis because it promotes calcium absorption from the diet and is necessary for normal bone growth. A minimum daily supplementation of 800 IU of vitamin D is recommended for all adults with osteoporosis.

"We know that Vitamin D plays an important role in protecting bones and needs to be part of the treatment plan for adults with osteoporosis.  Unfortunately, this study indicates that we can and should be doing more to ensure that patients have adequate levels of vitamin D," says Dr. Jonathan D. Adachi, Professor, Department of Medicine at St. Joseph's Hospital, McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. "The results of this study should underscore the importance of looking at vitamin D status to ensure that Canadians with osteoporosis are receiving the appropriate supplementation for comprehensive treatment of their disease."

Supplemental vitamin D helps patients with osteoporosis that may not get enough vitamin D through diet or exposure to natural sunlight to absorb calcium and build bone mass.

Canadians are at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency from October through April because winter sunlight in northern latitudes does not contain enough ultraviolet B for vitamin D to be produced. Further, as one ages, the skin is less able to make vitamin D from sunlight exposure.