Background: Vitamin D status is indicated by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, and the positive effects of high levels of vitamin D on bone mineral density (BMD) have not been ascertained. Therefore, we performed a study to analyze the association between serum 25(OH)D levels and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Multiple logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between serum 25(OH)D and osteoporosis of total femur, femoral neck and lumbar spine, with stratified analyses for age (< 65 and ≥ 65 years), BMI (< 25, 25 to < 30, ≥ 30 kg/m²) and survey months (winter months and summer months).
Results: In total, 2058 participants were enrolled in our study. In the fully adjusted model, compared with serum 25(OH)D levels < 50 nmol/L, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of serum 25(OH)D 50–< 75 nmol/L and ≥ 75 nmol/L were 0.274 (0.138, 0.544) and 0.374 (0.202, 0.693) in osteoporosis of total femur, 0.537 (0.328, 0.879) and 0.583 (0.331, 1.026) in osteoporosis of femoral neck, and 0.614 (0.357, 1.055) and 0.627 (0.368, 1.067) in osteoporosis of lumbar spine, respectively. The protective effect of high 25(OH)D was observed at all three skeletal sites in those ≥ 65 years of age, whereas it was observed only in the total femur in those < 65 years of age.
Conclusion: In conclusion, adequate vitamin D may reduce the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in the United States, especially in those aged 65 years and older. More attention should be given to serum 25 (OH) D levels to prevent osteoporosis.
Keywords: 25-hydroxyvitamin D, osteoporosis, bone mineral density, postmenopausal women, NHANES