Hypovitaminosis D3 in menopausal women in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi

Blood samples from 126 menopausal women, seeking treatment for different ailments at a tertiary care, multidisciplinary hospital in Delhi, India, were examined for their vitamin D(3), quantified by 25-hydroxvitamin D (25-OH-D) level. Using a direct ELISA kit, the 25-OH-D levels were measured and were found to be sufficient in 30 (23.8%) cases, adequate in 10 cases (7.9%) and deficient in 86 cases (68.2%). Severe hypo-vitaminosis in menopausal women in the Indian subcontinent ought to be treated with oral or parenteral supplementation. Point-of-care assay formats are needed for quantification of 25-OH-D levels at healthcare centers.