Quality of life is impaired not only in vitamin D deficient but also in vitamin D-insufficient pre-menopausal women.

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D deficiency may be more common in pre-menopausal women than previously thought and it may impair quality of life (QoL).

AIM

The aim of this study is to evaluate QoL in pre-menopausal women with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study in which subjects were enrolled between September 1st and November 30th, 2011. Healthy premenopausal women with weakness, fatigue and non-specific pain were assigned into three groups according to their 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels: ≤20 ng/ml (vitamin D deficient, no.=30), 21-29 ng/ml (vitamin D insufficient, no.=30) and ≥30 ng/ml (vitamin D sufficient, no.=20). Short form-36 (SF- 36) scores, age, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and PTH levels were compared among the groups and correlations of SF-36 scores with age, serum 25-OHD, Ca, P, and PTH were done.

RESULTS

There were significant differences among the groups with regard to PTH (p=0.008), physical component score (p=0.02), mental component score (p=0.035), physical functioning score (p=0.0001), and vitality score (p=0.05). Apart from PTH and physical functioning score, the results were significant when vitamin D-insufficient and -sufficient women were compared. Serum 25-OHD, but not PTH was correlated with some of the scales of SF-36.

CONCLUSIONS

Some components of QoL are impaired not only in vitamin D deficient but also in insufficient pre-menopausal women, and impairment is related to 25-OHD rather than PTH levels.