Vitamin D inadequacy among post-menopausal women: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D inadequacy has been studied extensively, due to concerns about ageing populations, associations with osteoporosis and other disorders (including non-musculoskeletal), and high prevalence. AIM: To review recent reports on the prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy among post-menopausal women with and without osteoporosis and/or other musculoskeletal diseases. DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: We reviewed publications in the past 10 years reporting prevalence estimates for vitamin D inadequacy, reported as serum 25(OH)D values below various levels. Thirty published studies in the English language were identified, from January 1994 through April 2004. RESULTS: In osteoporotic populations, the prevalence of 25(OH) vitamin D concentration <12 ng/ml ranged from 12.5% to 76%, while prevalence rates reached 50% to 70% of patients with a history of fracture(s) using a cut-off of 15 ng/ml. In post-menopausal women, the prevalence of 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations