Oral steroids ups risk of vitamin D deficiency--study
POSTED October 1, 2011 - 14:22 | POSTED BY Neharika Sabharwal
Last edited by Simmy Mishra on October 1, 2011 - 17:22
Experts found adults and children taking oral steroids were at two fold higher risk of severe vitamin D deficiency.
Inadequate levels of the so called “sunshine vitamin” increases the risk of bone diseases and weak muscles.
3,100 adults and children studied
In a bid to determine the link between oral steroid use and vitamin D levels, US researchers carried out a cohort study.
Severe vitamin D deficiency (classified as levels below 10 nanograms per milliliter of blood) has long been associated with osteomalacia (softening of the bones), rickets (softening of bones in children) and clinical myopathy (muscle weakness).
The investigators analyzed the vitamin D levels in the blood of more than 3,100 children and adults.
The blood samples were collected in 2001-2006, as a part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
For the purpose of the study, 20 and 50 nanograms of vitamin D per millilitre of blood was taken as normal for good bone health and general well being.
Findings of the study
The reserachers found nearly one percent of the participants had reportedly used oral steroids during the previous 30 days. Volunteers using inhaled steroids were not included in the study.
Among those using steroids, 11 percent were found severely deficient of the nutrient, while only five percent of the subjects not taking steroids exhibited the vitamin deficiency.
Also, the danger of severe vitamin D deficiency was more evident in steroid users under 18 years. The study found, they were 14 times more likely to have inadequate levels of the sunshine vitamin as opposed to young non-steroid users.
Implications of the study
According to expert, steroids elevate the levels of an enzyme that inactivates the vitamin thereby leading to insufficient amount of the nutrient in users.
For this reason it is imperative that doctors closely monitor vitamin D levels in individuals on oral steroid therapy.
Lead author of the study, Amy Skversky, M.D., M.S., assistant professor of pediatrics at Einstein and Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital for Einstein stated, "When doctors write that prescription for steroids and they're sending the patients for lab tests, they should also get the vitamin D level measured."
