Evaluation of vitamin D relationship with type 2 diabetes and systolic blood pressure

Objective: To investigate whether relationships existamong vitamin D, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and blood pressure in Trinidadian subjects with T2DM. Research design and methods: This was a case­ controlled study to determine if vitamin D levels were lower in patients with T2DM. After data analysis, an exploratory hypothesis of vitamin D relationship to systolic blood pressure (SBP) was developed. Plasma calcifediol (25(OH)D) concentrations were used as a measurement for vitamin D levels and were determined by ELISA. Cholesterol levels were measured by an automated dry chemistry analyzer and blood pressure was measured using an automatic blood pressure monitor. Results: There was no significant difference ( p=0.139, n=76) in 25(OH)D levels between patients with T2DM and controls. Subjects with SBP above 130 mm Hg were 8 times more likely to have a 25(OH)D plasma concentration above 25 ng/mL (OR 7.9 (2.2 to 28.7)), and were 5 times (OR 4.7 (1.7 to 15.1)) more likely to have a 25(OH)D plasma concentration above 30 ng/mL (OR 7.5 (2.3­24.2)). Vitamin D levels moderately and positively correlated with SBP (rs=0.38, p=0.001). Conclusions: There was no significant difference in the 25(OH)D levels between patients with T2DM and controls ( p=0.139). Patients with SBP under 130 mm Hg were 8 times more likely to have a vitamin D level above 25 ng/mL (OR 7.9 (2.2 to 28.7)). Further investigations are required to examine the relationship between vitamin D and SBP.

Serum calcium and vitamin D status of patients with sickle cell disease in Curacao: comparison with Saudi Arabia

Data from Saudi Arabia suggest that low vitamin D status is involved in skeletal abnormalities of patients with homozygous sickle-cell disease (HbSS). We measured parameters of calcium homeostasis and vitamin D status in HbSS patients (median age: 8 years, range: 3-19; 8 females, 10 males) and matched HbAA controls living in the tropical island of Curacao. Serum calcium of HbSS patients (2.32 ñ 0.07 mmol/l) was lower (ANCOVA, p = 0.002) than that of HbAA controls (2.44 ñ 0.14). None of the subjects had hypocalcaemia. There were no differences in phosphate, total protein, albumin, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D; HbSS 87 ñ 27, HbAA 86 ñ 15 nmol/l] and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. There were no significant relationships between serum calcium and albumin, calcium and total protein, and PTH and 25 (OH)D. Our data suggest that hypocalcaemia and hyperparathyroidic tendencies in Saudi Arabian HbSS patients are likely to be caused by the locally poor vitamin D status, attributable to insufficient exposure to direct sunlight (AU)

What to do in children's bowleg? - abstract

If idiopathic bowleg is common, rachitic bowleg must be recognized and cured with vitamin D therapy. Apart from these two conditions, there occurs very frequently another condition known as Blount's disease in the black population in the Caribbean. There is partial dystrophy of the medial part of the upper growth-plate of the tibia. Seventy-five cases were treated in 12 years and the different stages in the pathology of the condition are shown. Young children with this condition are treated with a small tibial osteotomy which prevents bowing of the legs (AU)

Primary hypophosphatemic rickets: an uncommon cause of bowed legs

This paper describes a 9-year-old girl with primary hypophossphatemic ricketts, an uncommon cause of bowed legs. A simple screening for patients presenting with bowed legs is suggested and the importance of using age-related standards for comparison of biochemical results is emphasized (AU)

Alkaline phosphatase in normal infants

Alkaline phosphatase was measured in plasma from children receiving vitamin D supplements in day nurseries in the London area, and from children exposed to sunlight in the West Indies. The distribution of values showed that there was no precise upper limit which could be used in the diagnosis of subclinical vitamin D deficiency. (AU)