Hypovitaminosis D and elevated serum alkaline phosphatase In elderly Irish people

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Abstract
The vitamin D status of 181 elderly Irish community-dwelling and institutionalized subjects was studied during Winter-Spring. The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 10 nmol/L (95% range < 5.0-59 nmol/L); values were below 25 nmol/L in 79 percent of subjects. A significant seasonal variation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels was noted in elderly community-dwelling subjects. The previously documented age-related increase in serum alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly less in vitamin D replete subjects than in vitamin D deplete subjects in this study (P < 0.005). The higher serum alkaline phosphatase values found in the vitamin D deplete subjects may represent mild secondary hyperparathyroidism or osteomalacia. The relationship of vitamin D status to both dietary intake and effective sunlight (latitude) is examined.