Correlation of vitamin D deficiency in the elderly : a comparative study of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is common in elderly subjects particularly when they are institutionalized in long stay geriatric wards. Vitamin D deficiency expose these patients in osteomalacia and secondary hyperparathyroidism which is a risk factor for increased cortical bone loss and hip fractures. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 in the correction of vitamin D deficiency in elderly subjects, since it had been showed in animal studies and in some clinical situations - (epileptics, young premenopausal women that vitamin D3 was preferred to vitamin D2 for the 25 hepatic hydroxylation.