Vitamin D deficiency and high serum levels of vitamin A increase the risk of osteoporosis evaluated by Quantitative Ultrasound Measurements (QUS) in postmenopausal Spanish women

ObjectivesAssociation between vitamin D deficiency and excess of vitamin A as a potential risk factor of osteoporosis and fracture has been evaluated.Design and methods232 healthy postmenopausal women were studied. Serum parameters were analyzed by standard methods and fat-soluble vitamins by an own HPLC method. QUS measurement of the calcaneal bone was carried out by Sahara.Results124 patients were considered non-osteoporotic and 101 (44.9%) were osteoporotic. The prevalence of high serum levels of retinol was 36.4% and vitamin D deficiency was 70.1%. 60.4% of women with vitamin D deficiency have high serum levels of retinol.In the whole population, the increased risk of osteoporosis was up to three times higher for the highest retinol quintile, as compared with the lowest retinol quintile. Whereas in women with vitamin D deficiency the risk of osteoporosis increased was up 5 times higher than women in the lowest quintile of retinol.ConclusionsOur results show that high retinol levels together with vitamin D deficiency are hitherto an overlooked risk factor for osteoporosis.