Parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentration in elderly patients.

In 50 patients of a geriatric hospital (33 women, aged 65-96 years, mean age 80 years, and 17 men, aged 68-91, mean age 78.3 years) calcium, albumin, phosphate, urea, creatinine, parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D were determined. Forty patients with serum creatinine levels up to 1.4 mg/dl (124 mumols/l) and 10 patients with creatinine concentrations greater than or equal to 1.5 mg/dl (132 mumols/l) were evaluated. In patients with normal creatinine, a positive correlation was found between parathyroid hormone and age (r = 0.41; P less than 0.01). In patients with elevated creatinine, negative correlations were found in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and calcium (r = -0.724; P less than 0.05), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and creatinine (r = -0.79; P less than 0.01) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and phosphate (r = -0.87; P less than 0.002). The best correlation was observed in patients with elevated serum creatinine for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and phosphate (r = -0.91; P less than 0.001). The results suggest that low levels of calcium and phosphate stimulate the 1-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D even in advanced age and that the calcium metabolism of these patients is frequently disturbed. Nineteen patients had low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, indicating an insufficient supply of vitamin D or rare exposure to sunlight. In 49 of 50 patients, one ore more of the parameters of calcium metabolism were outside the normal range.