THE EFFECTS OF VITAMIN D ON QUANTITATIVE ULTRASOUND PARAMETERS OF THE HEEL IN ELDERLY TURKISH POPULATION

The elderly are at risk of bone fracture. DEXA does not give information about bone microarchitecture. We evaluated if quantitative ultrasound measurement of the heel which is portable, cheap, radiation free and gives information about bone microarchitecture - is a reliable method for detecting osteoporosis instead of DEXA We evaluated 420 elderly patients (225 living in old age home; 195 in their home). QUS measurements were obtained by using Sahara Bone Sonometer-Hologic, from midcalcaneous. Serum levels of 25 (OH), intact parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase, calcium and phosphorus were measured by automated standard laboratory methods. The statistical significance was determined with Student's t test. Chi square test was used for the proportional correlations. P values of less than 0.05 were considered as significant. Ultrasonographic bone density was normal only in 38.2% of the subjects. There was osteoporosis in 16.1%, osteopenia in 45.7% of the subjects. When subjects living in OAH and in OH compared, 25 (OH) D levels, SOS, BUA, QUI, TQUI, AP, Ca and P were significantly lower in subjects living in OAH than those in OH (p<0.05). In subjects with low 25 (OH) D levels, SOS, BUA, QUI and TQUI, were significantly lower than those having normal 25 (OH) D levels (p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between 25(OH) D and SOS (p=0.029), BUA (p=0.005), QUI (p=0.015). Despite there is still need for more studies to accept QUS as gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis, till that time new believe it is the most appropriate method for at least osteoporosis screening.