Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of the National Medical Association logoLink to Journal of the National Medical Association
. 2007 Jun;99(6):650–657.

Vitamin-D nutrition and bone mass in adolescent black girls.

Sonia A Talwar 1, Jane Swedler 1, James Yeh 1, Simcha Pollack 1, John F Aloia 1
PMCID: PMC2574367  PMID: 17595934

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between bone mass and serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone in African-American adolescent girls. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional sample at a suburban research center. METHODS: Twenty-one adolescent black girls 12-14 years of age, were studied during winter with biochemical measurements of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Bone mass assessment was done with dual energy x-ray absorbsiometry (DXA) and peripheral quantitative computed tomography of the radius (p-QCT). Anthropometric, physical activity and nutritional data were collected. RESULTS: All participants were vitamin-D deficient (serum 25-OHD level <50 nmol/L), of whom nine (43%) were severely vitamin-D deficient (serum 25-OHD level <20 nmol/L). Mean daily intake of dietary calcium was 540 mg/d and vitamin D was 195 IU/d. There was a positive correlation, although statistically not significant, between serum 25-OHD and various bone mass measurements. Serum PTH was inversely correlated to total body BMD (r = -0.51, p = 0.02) and other bone mineral density at the lumbar spine, total femur and mid-radius. CONCLUSION: Vitamin-D insufficiency is a widely prevalent problem among adolescent African-American girls. Our data implies that enhancing vitamin-D nutrition resulting in lower serum PTH levels could potentially influence their peak bone mass.

Full text

PDF
650

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ainsworth B. E., Haskell W. L., Leon A. S., Jacobs D. R., Jr, Montoye H. J., Sallis J. F., Paffenbarger R. S., Jr Compendium of physical activities: classification of energy costs of human physical activities. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993 Jan;25(1):71–80. doi: 10.1249/00005768-199301000-00011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Aloia J. F., Mikhail M., Pagan C. D., Arunachalam A., Yeh J. K., Flaster E. Biochemical and hormonal variables in black and white women matched for age and weight. J Lab Clin Med. 1998 Nov;132(5):383–389. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2143(98)90109-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Arfken C. L., Houston C. A. Obesity in inner-city African Americans. Ethn Health. 1996 Dec;1(4):317–326. doi: 10.1080/13557858.1996.9961801. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bailey D. A., Wedge J. H., McCulloch R. G., Martin A. D., Bernhardson S. C. Epidemiology of fractures of the distal end of the radius in children as associated with growth. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1989 Sep;71(8):1225–1231. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bischoff-Ferrari Heike A., Dietrich Thomas, Orav E. John, Dawson-Hughes Bess. Positive association between 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and bone mineral density: a population-based study of younger and older adults. Am J Med. 2004 May 1;116(9):634–639. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2003.12.029. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bohannon A. D. Osteoporosis and African American women. J Womens Health Gend Based Med. 1999 Jun;8(5):609–615. doi: 10.1089/jwh.1.1999.8.609. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Bonofiglio D., Maggiolini M., Catalano S., Marsico S., Aquila S., Andò S. Bone mineral density is inversely related to parathyroid hormone in adolescent girls. Horm Metab Res. 2001 Mar;33(3):170–174. doi: 10.1055/s-2001-14931. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Cheng Sulin, Tylavsky Frances, Kröger Heikki, Kärkkäinen Merja, Lyytikäinen Arja, Koistinen Arvo, Mahonen Anitta, Alen Markku, Halleen Jussi, Vänänen Kalervo. Association of low 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations with elevated parathyroid hormone concentrations and low cortical bone density in early pubertal and prepubertal Finnish girls. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Sep;78(3):485–492. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/78.3.485. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Dawson-Hughes B., Harris S. S., Krall E. A., Dallal G. E. Effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on bone density in men and women 65 years of age or older. N Engl J Med. 1997 Sep 4;337(10):670–676. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199709043371003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Ehrmann D. A., Rosenfield R. L. Clinical review 10: An endocrinologic approach to the patient with hirsutism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990 Jul;71(1):1–4. doi: 10.1210/jcem-71-1-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Finkelstein Joel S., Lee Mei-Ling T., Sowers MaryFran, Ettinger Bruce, Neer Robert M., Kelsey Jennifer L., Cauley Jane A., Huang Mei-Hua, Greendale Gail A. Ethnic variation in bone density in premenopausal and early perimenopausal women: effects of anthropometric and lifestyle factors. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Jul;87(7):3057–3067. doi: 10.1210/jcem.87.7.8654. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Glerup H., Mikkelsen K., Poulsen L., Hass E., Overbeck S., Thomsen J., Charles P., Eriksen E. F. Commonly recommended daily intake of vitamin D is not sufficient if sunlight exposure is limited. J Intern Med. 2000 Feb;247(2):260–268. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2796.2000.00595.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Gordon Catherine M., DePeter Kerrin C., Feldman Henry A., Grace Estherann, Emans S. Jean. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Jun;158(6):531–537. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.158.6.531. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Guillemant J., Taupin P., Le H. T., Taright N., Allemandou A., Pérès G., Guillemant S. Vitamin D status during puberty in French healthy male adolescents. Osteoporos Int. 1999;10(3):222–225. doi: 10.1007/s001980050219. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Harris S. S., Dawson-Hughes B. Seasonal changes in plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of young American black and white women. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998 Jun;67(6):1232–1236. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/67.6.1232. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Harris S. S., Soteriades E., Coolidge J. A., Mudgal S., Dawson-Hughes B. Vitamin D insufficiency and hyperparathyroidism in a low income, multiracial, elderly population. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000 Nov;85(11):4125–4130. doi: 10.1210/jcem.85.11.6962. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Heaney R. P., Abrams S., Dawson-Hughes B., Looker A., Marcus R., Matkovic V., Weaver C. Peak bone mass. Osteoporos Int. 2000;11(12):985–1009. doi: 10.1007/s001980070020. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Heaney Robert P., Dowell M. Susan, Hale Cecilia A., Bendich Adrianne. Calcium absorption varies within the reference range for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. J Am Coll Nutr. 2003 Apr;22(2):142–146. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2003.10719287. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Heaney Robert P., Weaver Connie M. Calcium and vitamin D. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2003 Mar;32(1):181-94, vii-viii. doi: 10.1016/s0889-8529(02)00063-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Holick M. F. McCollum Award Lecture, 1994: vitamin D--new horizons for the 21st century. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994 Oct;60(4):619–630. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/60.4.619. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Holick Michael F. Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Dec;80(6 Suppl):1678S–1688S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/80.6.1678S. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Holick Michael F. Too little vitamin D in premenopausal women: why should we care? Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Jul;76(1):3–4. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/76.1.3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Ilich J. Z., Badenhop N. E., Jelic T., Clairmont A. C., Nagode L. A., Matkovic V. Calcitriol and bone mass accumulation in females during puberty. Calcif Tissue Int. 1997 Aug;61(2):104–109. doi: 10.1007/s002239900304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Jacobsen S. J., Goldberg J., Miles T. P., Brody J. A., Stiers W., Rimm A. A. Hip fracture incidence among the old and very old: a population-based study of 745,435 cases. Am J Public Health. 1990 Jul;80(7):871–873. doi: 10.2105/ajph.80.7.871. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Johnston C. C., Jr, Miller J. Z., Slemenda C. W., Reister T. K., Hui S., Christian J. C., Peacock M. Calcium supplementation and increases in bone mineral density in children. N Engl J Med. 1992 Jul 9;327(2):82–87. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199207093270204. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Kao P. C., Jiang N. S., Klee G. G., Purnell D. C. Development and validation of a new radioimmunoassay for parathyrin (PTH). Clin Chem. 1982 Jan;28(1):69–74. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Kristinsson J. O., Valdimarsson O., Sigurdsson G., Franzson L., Olafsson I., Steingrimsdottir L. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and bone mineral density in 16-20 years-old girls: lack of association. J Intern Med. 1998 May;243(5):381–388. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2796.1998.00302.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Lehtonen-Veromaa Marjo K. M., Möttönen Timo T., Nuotio Ilpo O., Irjala Kerttu M. A., Leino Aila E., Viikari Jorma S. A. Vitamin D and attainment of peak bone mass among peripubertal Finnish girls: a 3-y prospective study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Dec;76(6):1446–1453. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/76.6.1446. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Liel Y., Ulmer E., Shary J., Hollis B. W., Bell N. H. Low circulating vitamin D in obesity. Calcif Tissue Int. 1988 Oct;43(4):199–201. doi: 10.1007/BF02555135. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Lips P., Duong T., Oleksik A., Black D., Cummings S., Cox D., Nickelsen T. A global study of vitamin D status and parathyroid function in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: baseline data from the multiple outcomes of raloxifene evaluation clinical trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Mar;86(3):1212–1221. doi: 10.1210/jcem.86.3.7327. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Lloyd T., Andon M. B., Rollings N., Martel J. K., Landis J. R., Demers L. M., Eggli D. F., Kieselhorst K., Kulin H. E. Calcium supplementation and bone mineral density in adolescent girls. JAMA. 1993 Aug 18;270(7):841–844. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Looker Anne C., Dawson-Hughes B., Calvo M. S., Gunter E. W., Sahyoun N. R. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status of adolescents and adults in two seasonal subpopulations from NHANES III. Bone. 2002 May;30(5):771–777. doi: 10.1016/s8756-3282(02)00692-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Matkovic V., Fontana D., Tominac C., Goel P., Chesnut C. H., 3rd Factors that influence peak bone mass formation: a study of calcium balance and the inheritance of bone mass in adolescent females. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990 Nov;52(5):878–888. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/52.5.878. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Matkovic V., Jelic T., Wardlaw G. M., Ilich J. Z., Goel P. K., Wright J. K., Andon M. B., Smith K. T., Heaney R. P. Timing of peak bone mass in Caucasian females and its implication for the prevention of osteoporosis. Inference from a cross-sectional model. J Clin Invest. 1994 Feb;93(2):799–808. doi: 10.1172/JCI117034. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Oliveri M. B., Wittich A., Mautalen C., Chaperon A., Kizlansky A. Peripheral bone mass is not affected by winter vitamin D deficiency in children and young adults from Ushuaia. Calcif Tissue Int. 2000 Sep;67(3):220–224. doi: 10.1007/s002230001133. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Outila T. A., Kärkkäinen M. U., Lamberg-Allardt C. J. Vitamin D status affects serum parathyroid hormone concentrations during winter in female adolescents: associations with forearm bone mineral density. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001 Aug;74(2):206–210. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/74.2.206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Pocock N. A., Eisman J. A., Hopper J. L., Yeates M. G., Sambrook P. N., Eberl S. Genetic determinants of bone mass in adults. A twin study. J Clin Invest. 1987 Sep;80(3):706–710. doi: 10.1172/JCI113125. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Ribot C., Trémollieres F., Pouilles J. M. Late consequences of a low peak bone mass. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 1995 Sep;411:31–36. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1995.tb13857.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Slemenda C. W., Peacock M., Hui S., Zhou L., Johnston C. C. Reduced rates of skeletal remodeling are associated with increased bone mineral density during the development of peak skeletal mass. J Bone Miner Res. 1997 Apr;12(4):676–682. doi: 10.1359/jbmr.1997.12.4.676. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Sullivan Susan S., Rosen Clifford J., Halteman William A., Chen Tai C., Holick Michael F. Adolescent girls in Maine are at risk for vitamin D insufficiency. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005 Jun;105(6):971–974. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2005.03.002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Tangpricha Vin, Pearce Elizabeth N., Chen Tai C., Holick Michael F. Vitamin D insufficiency among free-living healthy young adults. Am J Med. 2002 Jun 1;112(8):659–662. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(02)01091-4. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Vieth R., Chan P. C., MacFarlane G. D. Efficacy and safety of vitamin D3 intake exceeding the lowest observed adverse effect level. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001 Feb;73(2):288–294. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/73.2.288. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of the National Medical Association are provided here courtesy of National Medical Association

RESOURCES