High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Japanese Female Patients with Graves' Disease

摘要

References(29) Cited-By(9) We reported previously that vitamin D deficiency is a causal mechanism of postoperative tetany in patients with Graves' disease. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency by reviewing serum 25(OH)D levels in 208 patients with Graves' disease (146 women, 62 men) during a 1 year period. Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower (p0.001) in female Graves' patients (31.8±13.3nmol/l) than in male patients (41.3±15.0nmol/l). Vitamin D deficiency (defined as a serum 25(OH)D value below 25nmol/l) was found in 40% of female patients and in 18% of male patients (p0.005). There was a significant seasonal variation in the 25(OH)D concentrations in female patients [amplitude 6.38 (95% CI, 5.42-7.56)], with values below 25nmol/l found in 58% of female patients during the winter months. There were significant (p0.001) differences in serum 25(OH)D levels between age groups in the female patients. The concentrations were lowest in patients in their twenties (25.1±8.2nmol/l) and highest in patients in their fifties and sixties (43.2±13.7nmol/l). Serum 25(OH)D concentrations might be monitored in patients with Graves' disease during antithyroid drug therapy, and vitamin D and/or calcium supplements are recommended for patients with vitamin D deficiency.