Vitamin D metabolites – relation to age, menopause and endometriosis

Abstract

We investigated the influence of menopause, age and sex on vitamin D metabolism in a large group of healthy women (n=113) and men (n=108) and in a group of early postmenopausal women (n=124). Furthermore, we studied the vitamin D metabolism in 42 women with endometriosis.

The vitamin D metabolites did not show dependence on age or on duration of menopause. The serum concentrations of vitamin D metabolites did not differ in normal men and women. There were highly significant seasonal oscillations for 25(OH)D and 24,25(OH)₂D₃ but not for 1,25(OH)₂D. Women with endometriosis had significantly elevated serum 1,25(OH)₂D compared to the normal women.

Our study indicates that ageing is not associated with a significant depletion of 25(OH)D, 24,25(OH)₂D or 1,25(OH)₂D in normal men and women up to the age of 75 years. Furthermore, changes in vitamin D metabolism seem not to be an important factor in early postmenopausal bone loss. Our results on patients with endometriosis indicate that these patients may have some calcium-metabolic disturbances.

Key Words:

• 25(OH)D
• 24,25(OH)₂D
• 1,25(OH)₂D
• endometriosis
• normal subjects
• osteoporosis