Serum Vitamin D, C, and E Deficiency in Osteoporotic Women: A Case–Control Analysis of Micronutrient Status

Abstract

Objective: To compare the serum levels of vitamins D, C and E between postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and healthy controls, and to examine the association between the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers and lipid profile. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based case–control study was done with 73 women with primary osteoporosis and 20 age-matched healthy control women. Venous blood was drawn after 12 hours of fasting for biochemical analysis. The concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, vitamin C and vitamin E were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and spectrophotometric methods, respectively. One way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis and p<0.05 was deemed significant. Results: Osteoporotic patients exhibited significantly lower serum levels of vitamin D (24.04±6.81 vs. 69.32±7.63 ng/mL), vitamin C (0.33±0.09 vs. 0.57±0.08 mg/dL), and vitamin E (0.21±0.06 vs. 0.29±0.06 mg/mL) compared to controls (all p<0.001). The oxidative stress markers, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, were significantly elevated (3.66±0.81 vs. 1.34±0.30 nmol/mL; 15.25±1.43 vs. 11.28±1.34) and the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx) were significantly Depleted (All P<0.001). Conclusion: Vitamins D, C, and E were all severely deficient in the osteoporotic women, and there were an increased oxidative stress and dyslipidaemia in these women. Regularly assessing and supplementing micronutrients and/or using targeted antioxidant treatments could be a crucial complement to osteoporosis treatment.