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PubMed1997

Effects of trace element and/or vitamin supplementation on vitamin and mineral status, free radical metabolism and immunological markers in elderly long term-hospitalized subjects. Geriatric Network MIN. VIT. AOX.

A randomized double-blind trial was performed in order to assess the efficacity of differing combinations of antioxidant nutrients on biochemical parameters of vitamin and trace element status, immunological parameters and free radical metabolism in elderly long term hospitalized subjects. A total of 756 institutionalized elderly subjects were recruited in 26 nursing homes in different areas of France. Four groups were constituted, receiving daily, for 1 year, either vitamins (beta-carotene, 6 mg; vitamin C, 120 mg; and vitamin E, 15 mg), trace elements (zinc, 20 mg and selenium, 100 micrograms), trace elements associated with vitamins, or a placebo. Biochemical indicators of trace elements and vitamin status and free radical parameters were measured before and after 6 months and 1 year of supplementation. Some immunological markers were investigated initially and after 6 months of supplementation on a subsample of 134 subjects. Mean plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, vitamin C, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and copper increased significantly after 6 months of supplementation in groups receiving vitamins alone or associated with trace elements. Serum selenium concentrations were significantly increased at 6 months of supplementation, and serum zinc only after one year in the trace element groups. Serum lycopene levels were significantly decreased by trace element supplementation. A significant increase in Se-glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels was observed in groups receiving trace elements alone or associated with vitamins. No effect was noted on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity or TBARs production. No effect of supplementation was found for in vitro lymphocyte proliferative responses or most lymphocyte subsets, except for a significantly lower percentage of CD2 subsets observed in groups receiving mineral supplementation either alone or associated with vitamins. A significant difference in CD19 subsets was found in groups receiving trace elements. Mean IL-1 production was significantly higher after 6 months of supplementation in the vitamin groups.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Vitamin E response to high dietary vitamin A in the chick.

Chicks were fed diets containing three levels of tocopherol, and control or high levels of retinyl palmitate for at least 24 days. Glutathione peroxidase activity in erythrocytes, plasma and liver was enhanced in tocopherol-depleted chicks, and in chicks fed high dietary vitamin A. Hepatic malonaldehyde production increased in high vitamin A chicks. Superoxide dismutase activity was increased in erythrocytes and livers of chicks on low tocopherol diets and depressed by high dietary vitamin A. The effects of high dietary vitamin A were at least partially attenuated by addition of tocopherol to the diet. Chicks fed high vitamin A, low vitamin E diets demonstrated a sixfold increase in clearance of labeled tocopherol from plasma. Additional dietary tocopherol partially prevented the rapid clearance of tocopherol due to vitamin A. Absorption studies with a nonabsorbed reference substance (141Ce) revealed that a greater fraction of dietary tocopherol was oxidized prior to the digesta reaching the duodenum when high vitamin A levels were present in the diet although no differences in percentage tocopherol absorption were observed. Secretion into the intestine of glucuronides of tocopherol was enhanced almost twofold by feeding high vitamin A. It is concluded that the interactions between tocopherol and vitamin A include: enhanced oxidation of dietary tocopherol prior to the intestine, increased tocopherol turnover, due, in part, to increased conjugation to glucuronides, and selective changes in enzymes involved in protection of cells against oxidative damage.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Vitamin K metabolism and vitamin K1 status in human liver samples: a search for inter-individual differences in warfarin sensitivity.

Vitamin K-dependent parameters in human liver samples were investigated to find a clue to the inter-individual differences in sensitivity for oral anticoagulants. Vitamin K epoxide reductase and vitamin K-dependent carboxylase activity differed 2-3-fold between the samples. Microsomal warfarin binding correlated significantly with the reductase activity. Microsomal vitamin K epoxide reductase of the different samples showed equal sensitivity for warfarin inhibition, I50 about 0.1 microM. Vitamin K epoxide reductase activity stimulated by NADH/lipoamide and microsomal lipoamide dehydrogenase activity showed higher inter-subject variability than the reductase activity by itself. Liver vitamin K1 levels varied 4-5-fold. Total and liver microsomal vitamin K1 levels were correlated. One of the liver samples was obtained from a donor anticoagulated with phenprocoumon and additionally treated with vitamin K1. High levels of the vitamin and its epoxide were present. Phenprocoumon was essentially irreversibly bound to the microsomes. In general the results confirm inter-individual differences in the hepatic vitamin K-dependent systems; the differences as such were found to be small. However, as the various parameters can work synergistically in the same direction, they may well account for the wide dose range observed in oral anticoagulant therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Effect of vitamin supplements on some aspects of performance, vitamin status, and semen quality in boars.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of dietary supplements of vitamins on vitamin status, libido, and semen characteristics in young boars under normal and intensive semen collection. Sixty Landrace, Yorkshire, and Duroc boars were allocated randomly from 6 to 10 mo of age to one of the following diets: 1) basal diet (industry level) for minerals and vitamins (Control, n = 15); 2) basal diet supplemented with vitamin C (ASC, n = 15); 3) basal diet supplemented with fat-soluble vitamins (FSV, n = 15); and 4) basal diet supplemented with water-soluble vitamins (WSV, n = 15). After puberty (approximately 12 mo of age), semen was collected at a regular frequency (three times every 2 wk) for 5 wk. Thereafter, all boars were intensively collected (daily during 2 wk). A recovery period (semen collection three times every 2 wk) followed and lasted for 10 wk. Sperm quality (percentage of motile cells and percentage of morphologically normal cells) and quantity (sperm concentration, semen volume, and total sperm number) were recorded as well as direct and hormone related measurements of boar libido. Blood and seminal plasma samples were taken to monitor vitamin status. High concentrations of B6 (P < 0.05) and folic acid (P < 0.05) were observed in the blood plasma of WSV boars, whereas greater concentrations of vitamin E (P < 0.01) were obtained in FSV boars. In the seminal plasma, folic acid concentrations tended to be greater in WSV boars (P < 0.08). During the intensive collection period, there was a tendency (P < 0.06) for semen production to be greater in WSV boars, the effect being less pronounced (P < 0.10) in FSV boars. During the recovery period, the percentage of motile sperm cells was greater in WSV boars (P < 0.03) and, to a lesser extent, in FSV boars (P < 0.10) compared with Control boars. Sperm morphology and libido were not affected by treatments. These results indicate that the transfer of vitamins from blood to seminal plasma is limited and the dietary supplements of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins may increase semen production during intensive semen collection.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Vitamin A, E and D nutrition in mares and foals during the winter season: effect of feeding two different vitamin-mineral concentrates.

The effects of feeding two different vitamin-mineral concentrates on serum levels of vitamins A, E and D and some growth indicators were examined in 30 pregnant mares and 30 foals. One concentrate contained vitamins A and E and the other did not. Both contained vitamin D3. No differences (P greater than .05) in serum levels of retinol and alpha-tocopherol were observed between the feeding groups in the mares, whereas in the weanlings serum levels of dietary vitamins A and E increased (P less than .01) during late winter and early spring. However, the values did not increase to levels found in summer. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were very low (compared with animals of other species) in October, decreased (P less than .05) in winter and increased somewhat during the spring. The decrease in January was more pronounced in horses receiving vitamin concentrates containing less vitamin D. These results are interpreted to indicate that, in Finland, the commonly used amounts of dietary vitamins A and E or their bioavailability in vitamin-mineral concentrates are not sufficient to maintain serum concentrations in winter even close to the levels found in horses on pasture. Vitamin D status of horses is difficult to study due to very low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in the levels of certain vitamins from B group under conditions of vitamin deficiency.

In experiments on rabbits the levels of vitamins B1, B2, B6, PP and pantothenic acid were determined to establish the grade and the sequence of their disappearance from the blood and liver in states of exogenous and endogenous vitamin deficiency. The experiments were carried out in which vitamin deficiency was produced by removing vitamins from the diet or by giving the rabbits antibiotics of different activity spectrum when the animals were kept on a diet without vitamins. Determinations of vitamin levels were performed using microbiological methods. It was found that the time after which changes in vitamin levels developed as well as the intensity of changes differ, depending on the experimental model used, but the sequence of vitamin disappearance from the organism is always the same. The first to disappear were vitamins B1, followed by vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Microsomal 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 in pig liver.

A microsomal cytochrome P-450 catalysing 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D2 was purified from both male and female pigs to apparent homogeneity and a specific cytochrome P-450 content of 13 and 15.4 nmol x mg of protein-1, respectively. The enzyme also catalysed 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D3. The ratio between the 25-hydroxylase activities towards vitamin D2 and D3 was essentially the same in the different purification steps as well as in the apparently homogeneous enzyme preparation. The two enzyme activities showed the same pH optimum and decreased in parallel upon partial denaturation of the enzyme. Cholecalciferol competitively inhibited 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D2 and vice versa. The non-steroidal cytochrome P-450 inhibitor ketoconazole inhibited both enzyme activities and the Ki values were the same. The cytochrome P-450 showed the same apparent M(r), substrate specificity and N-terminal amino acid sequence as the previously purified vitamin D3 25-hydroxylase from pig liver microsomes. A monoclonal antibody raised against the vitamin D3 25-hydroxylase also recognized the vitamin D2 25-hydroxylase. The antibody immunoprecipitated the 25-hydroxylase activity towards both vitamin D2 and D3 in the purified enzyme. Taken together, the results show that the 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D2 and D3 is catalysed by the same microsomal cytochrome P-450 in pig liver microsomes. The properties of this 25-hydroxylase are discussed in relation to present knowledge concerning previously well-characterized vitamin D3 25-hydroxylases that are not able to catalyse 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D2.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Distribution and metabolism of F6-1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 and 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 in the bones of rats dosed with tritium-labeled compounds.

26,26,26,27,27,27-Hexafluo-1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3, the hexafluorinated analog of 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3, has been reported to be several times more potent than the parent compound regarding some vitamin D actions. The reason for enhanced biologic activity in the kidneys and small intestine appears to be related to F6-1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 metabolism to ST-232, 26,26,26,27,27,27-hexafluoro-1 alpha, 23S,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3, a bioactive 23S-hydroxylated form that is resistant to further metabolism. Since F6-1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 is considered to prevent osteoporotic decrease in bone mass by suppressing bone turnover, we here compared the distribution and metabolism of [1 beta-3H]F6-1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 and [1 beta-3H]1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 in bones of rats by autoradiography and radio-HPLC. In the dosed groups, radioactivity was detected locally in the metaphysis, the modeling site in bones. As compared with the [1 beta-3H]1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 case, [1 beta-3H]F6-1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 was significantly retained in this site, and moreover, it mainly persisted as unchanged compound and ST-232. These findings indicate that the reason for the higher potency of F6-1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 than 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 in bones are linked with increased distribution and reduced metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Vitamin B-6 requirement and status assessment: young women fed a depletion diet followed by a plant- or animal-protein diet with graded amounts of vitamin B-6.

The vitamin B-6 requirement of young women consuming a high-protein diet (1.55 g/kg body wt) and the effect of protein quality on this requirement was studied. In addition, the response of clinical, functional, and biochemical measures of vitamin B-6 nutriture to short-term depletion and step-wise repletion of vitamin B-6 were evaluated. Eight healthy young women resided in a metabolic unit and were fed a formula depletion diet (< 0.05 mg vitamin B-6/d) for 11-28 d followed by either an animal-protein (AP) or plant-protein (PP) diet with successively increasing vitamin B-6 intakes (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg/d) for periods of 14-21 d. Animal proteins were primarily from dairy and poultry sources and plant proteins were primarily from legumes. Vitamin B-6 status measures were assessed at weekly intervals. Results showed that a PP diet does not elevate the vitamin B-6 requirement over that required for an AP diet given the high amount of dietary protein used in this study. It was also found that 0.015 mg vitamin B-6/g protein intake normalized most biochemical indexes of vitamin B-6 status (including those indicative of functional status), and that 0.020 mg/g protein normalized all biochemical measures except total urinary vitamin B-6. Adding a margin of safety to either the 0.015 or 0.020 mg/g protein intake would raise the vitamin B-6 requirement for young women above the currently recommended dietary allowance of 0.016 mg/g protein.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Assessment of vitamin B-6 status in young women consuming a controlled diet containing four levels of vitamin B-6 provides an estimated average requirement and recommended dietary allowance.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin B-6 for young women was recently reduced from 1.6 to 1.3 mg/d based on an adequate plasma pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) concentration of 20 nmol/L. To assess vitamin B-6 requirements and suggest recommendations for intake, seven healthy young women consumed a controlled diet providing 1.2 g protein/kg body weight for a 7-d adjustment period (1.0 mg vitamin B-6/d) and three successive 14-d experimental periods (1.5, 2.1 and 2.7 mg/d, respectively). Direct and indirect vitamin B-6 status indicators were measured in plasma, erythrocytes and urine. Indicators most strongly correlated with vitamin B-6 intake [i.e., plasma and erythrocyte PLP, urinary 4-pyridoxic acid (4-PA) and total vitamin B-6] were regressed on vitamin B-6 intake and the dietary vitamin B-6 to protein ratio. Inverse prediction using adequate and baseline values estimated vitamin B-6 requirement. Adequate values were determined for plasma PLP and urinary 4-PA from baseline values of 60 previous subjects, using the statistical method suggested by Sauberlich. The current study suggests a vitamin B-6 Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for young women of 1.1 mg/d or 0.016 mg/g protein, and a RDA of 1.5 mg/d or 0.020 mg/g protein. When results from this study are combined with data from four other recent studies, the combined data predict an EAR of 1.2 mg/d or 0.015 mg/g protein, and a RDA of 1.7 mg/d or 0.018 mg/g protein. This study suggests that the current vitamin B-6 RDA may not be adequate.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1983

Effect of large oral and intravenous doses of vitamins D2 and D3 on vitamin D in milk.

Vitamins D2 and D3 were measured in milk after high performance liquid chromatography of unsaponifiable lipids first on a silica column and then on a reverse-phase column. Milk from cows kept indoors contained barely detectable vitamin (less than 2 IU/100 ml) predominantly in the form of vitamin D3. When cows were given 5 or 10 million IU vitamin D3, maximums were in milk 3 to 7 days after oral doses and up to 10 days after intravenous injections. Maximums ranged from 7 to 90 IU/100 ml. Two cows were given given a mixture of 1 million IU vitamin D2 and 1 million IU vitamin D3 orally, and of the vitamins were maximum 2 to 3 days after the dose in blood plasma and a day later in milk. Equal amounts of the two forms of the vitamins were in milk, but vitamin D3 in plasma was double vitamin D2. Different mechanisms control concentrations of vitamins D2 and D3 in blood and milk after large doses.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1981

[Influence of the dietary level of vitamin B6 on the vitamin nutritional status of the lactating rat and the litter (author's transl)].

Seven groups of female rats which had given birth to the litters of 8 youngs (or litters adjusted to 8 youngs) were fed diets containing respectively 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 mg/kg of vitamin B6. Fourteen days after littering, the vitamin B6 content was measured in female tissues (blood, liver, carcass) or in those of the youngs (liver, carcass). Besides, the vitamin B6 content in the stomach of the youngs was measured, 3, 7 and 14 days after birth. 1. When the dietary vitamin B6 content is less than or equal to 1 mg/kg the blood vitamin level in the mother remains very low. As the dietary level rises (beyond 1 mg/kg) the blood vitamin level markedly increases. However the liver and carcass vitamin contents in the mother do not show any baseline value only the carcass content reaches a top value. 2. The highest vitamin B6 content in the stomach of the youngs (milk) is already reached when the diets contains 4 mg/kg of the vitamin. 3. Same results are obtained regarding the vitamin contents of the liver and carcass in the youngs. Therefore it appears that these levels are mainly related to the milk vitamin B6 content in the mother. In a previous work however, it was shown that in similar experimental conditions, the maximum tissue thiamin contents depend upon other mechanisms.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1999

Inhibitory effects of vitamin A and vitamin K on rat cytochrome P4501A1-dependent monooxygenase activity.

The inhibitory effects of vitamins A and K toward P4501A1-dependent 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation were examined in the reconstituted system containing the microsomal fraction prepared from the recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells producing rat P4501A1 and yeast NADPH-P450 reductase. On vitamins A, all-trans-retinol, all-trans-retinal, all-trans-retinoic acid and retinol-palmitate showed competitive inhibition with K(i) values of 0.068, 0.079, 2.6 and 2.0 microM, respectively. Judging from the K(i) values, the inhibitory effects of those vitamins A appear to have physiological significance on the basis of their contents in liver, lung and kidney. On vitamins K, vitamin K(1) showed competitive inhibition with K(i) value of 24 microM, while vitamin K(2) showed noncompetitive inhibition with K(i) value of 60 microM. Judging from these K(i) values together with the contents of these vitamins K in liver, the inhibitory effects of the vitamins K are not as significant as those of vitamins A. These results suggest that the ingestion of enough amounts of vitamins A from foods might lead to the inhibition of the activity of P4501A1 which is known to be induced by smoking, drugs such as omeprazole and lansoprazole, and environmental pollutants like dioxins.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Copper status in rats fed diets supplemented with either vitamin E, vitamin A, or beta-carotene.

Copper status was measured in rats fed copper-adequate, purified diets supplemented with either vitamin E (250 IU/kg), vitamin A (40,000 IU/kg), or beta-carotene (2 g/kg). It was hypothesized that the extra intake of the antioxidants would spare vitamin C resulting in a decreased copper status as shown previously after supplementation with vitamin C. A significant increase in plasma ascorbate concentration was observed after beta-carotene supplementation, but not after supplemental vitamin E or vitamin A. Extra intake of either beta-carotene or vitamin A slightly, but significantly, raised plasma copper concentrations. Beta-carotene also slightly raised liver copper concentration. Supplemental vitamin E had no effect on plasma and liver copper concentrations. It is concluded that the observed relatively small effects of supplemental vitamin A and beta-carotene on copper status in rats are not mediated by changes in plasma vitamin C concentration.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Vitamin D and pancreatic islet function. I. Time course for changes in insulin secretion and content during vitamin D deprivation and repletion.

After weaning, rats were given free access to a control or vitamin D-deprived diet for 2 to 5 weeks. In the vitamin D deficient rats, plasma concentrations of 25-(OH)D3, 1,25-(OH)2D3,24,25-(OH)2D3 calcium, glucose and insulin were all decreased. After an overnight fast, the plasma insulin concentration was also decreased even when the plasma glucose concentration was not significantly affected. The food intake and body growth was also impaired in vitamin D-deficient rats. Administration of vitamin D3 in oil for 3 to 6 days to vitamin D-deficient rats increased the plasma concentration of vitamin D metabolites, calcium and insulin, but not that of glucose, and stimulated food intake and body growth to a larger extent than in rats treated by oil alone. Vitamin D deprivation decreased and vitamin D treatment increased the insulin content of the whole pancreas or isolated islets and the secretory response of the islets to D-glucose. The changes in insulin release remained significant when the hormonal output was expressed relative to the insulin content of the islets. These findings confirm that vitamin D deficiency causes alterations of pancreatic B-cell function. Moreover, the time course for changes in biological variables during vitamin D deprivation and treatment suggests that such an alteration cannot be solely accounted for by concomitant abnormalities in either plasma calcium or glucose concentrations.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Relative value of plain vitamin D and of biologically active vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis].

Vitamin D metabolism has an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Vitamin D deficiency is very common in elderly people in central Europe. This leads to secondary hyperparathyroidism and to increased bone resorption, resulting in osteoporosis. Combined with the elevated risk of falling that results from vitamin D deficiency, this increases the frequency of bone fractures. Severe vitamin D deficiency also causes impaired bone mineralization (osteomalacia). Controlled intervention trials with native vitamin D (and calcium) yielded no consistent results in terms of the prevention of extravertebral fractures. It appears likely that treatment with plain vitamin D is effective only in populations with vitamin D deficiency. Treatment with active vitamin D (1-alpha-hydroxylated metabolites such as alfacalcidol) has to be considered a pharmacological intervention that exerts pleiotropic effects on the gut (calcium absorption), bone (stimulation of formation), muscle (decreasing of the risk of falling), and immune system. Target groups are patients with disturbed vitamin D metabolism (renal insufficiency, glucocorticoid therapy, inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis). Alfacalcidol can prevent glucocorticoid-induced bone loss (high-grade evidence). In comparative studies alfacalcidol was superior to plain vitamin D.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1995

Effect of vitamin E deficiency and supercritical fluid aerosolized vitamin E supplementation on interleukin-1-induced oxidative lung injury in rats.

We hypothesized that alterations in lung vitamin E levels would impact the development of acute oxidative lung injury. We found that dietary induced deficiency of vitamin E diminished lung tissue levels of vitamin E and increased lung leak following intratracheal administration of interleukin-1 (IL-1) to rats. Conversely, rats administered vitamin E directly to the lungs as an inhaled aerosol (0.3-3 microns particles) formed by supercritical fluid aerosolization (SFA) had increased lung tissue vitamin E levels and decreased IL-1 induced lung leak compared to control rats. Lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities, reflecting neutrophil concentrations, were increased in rats given IL-1 intratracheally compared to rats given saline intratracheally but were not different for control or vitamin E depleted rats. Lung MPO activities in rats given IL-1 intratracheally were slightly higher in SFA vitamin E treated rats than in control rats. Our results suggest that vitamin E levels affect susceptibility to IL-1 induced, neutrophil-dependent lung injury. We speculate that supercritical fluid aerosol (SFA) delivery of vitamin E can rapidly increase lung vitamin E levels and decrease acute oxidative lung injury.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in postmenopausal women at a rheumatology office in Madrid. Evaluation of 2 vitamin D prescription regimens].

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency has been frequently observed in the elderly population in Europe. However few information is available about the vitamin D status in postmenopausal women in the Mediterranean countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vitamin D status assessed by serum 25(OH)D3 (calcidiol) in postmenopausal women who attended a Rheumatology practice in Madrid area, and to evaluate calcidiol serum levels through one year after two forms of vitamin D administration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Calcidiol serum levels were measured in 171 postmenopausal women (111 with osteoporosis and 60 without osteoporosis). 82 women with calcidiol serum levels < 10 ng/ml were distributed in two groups: Group I received 800 U/day of vitamin D3 associated with calcium (1 g/day) and group II, one dose of 80,000 U vitamin D orally as calcidiol and latter a daily dose of 800 U vitamin D3 plus 1 g calcium. Calcidiol serum levels were measured by RIA in both groups at basal condition and after three, six and twelve months under treatment. RESULTS: Three cut-offs were considered: 10, 15 and 20 ng/ml of calcidiol. Percentages of postmenopausal women with vitamin D deficiency for such cut-offs were: 35.3%, 64.1% and 87.1%, respectively. After three months of treatment, women from group II showed calcidiol serum levels higher than group I. At six and twelve months calcidiol serum levels were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was observed in a group of postmenopausal women who attended a rheumatology practice in Madrid area. Both forms of vitamin D administration seem not sufficient to maintain the adequate calcidiol serum levels in postmenopausal deficient women. A dose of 80,000 U of calcidiol twice a year should be considered.

Aged↗