Originally published August 6 2005
Bone breakage associated with vitamin D deficiency
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A new study shows that elderly people who break their hips suffer from a vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D deficiency is nearly universal in cases of hip fractures, researchers in Scotland reported online in Current Medical Research and Opinion on Monday.
A look-back study of 548 patients older than 60 years of age who were admitted at South Glasgow University Hospital in the previous 4 years, showed that 97.8 percent of the patients had vitamin D levels below normal.
In 25 percent of the cases, levels were so low as to be described as "effectively unrecordable" by the researchers.
There were no significant differences in patient age, sex or season of presentation.
Dr. Stephen Gallacher, lead researcher and consultant endocrinologist at the hospital said: "Although the numbers were too small to justify extensive subgroup analyzes the study appears to demonstrate that vitamin D inadequacy represents a significant correctable risk factor for fragility fracture and perhaps specifically for the hip."
Doctors, he added in a statement, "should do all they can to encourage their osteoporotic patients to adhere to their vitamin D supplementation."
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml