Association of serum vitamin D, IL-6 levels, and bone mineral density in pre- and post-menopausal women suffering from osteoporosis before and after vitamin D3 supplementation therapy

Abstract

Background: Estrogen deficiency and vitamin D deficiency simultaneously stimulate surge of cytokine production leads to increase osteoclastogenesis cause bone resorption. Treatment with vitamin D strongly stimulates calcium resorption and decreases bone turnover. Vitamin D also decreases interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, which further decreases the activity of osteoclast, which helps in regaining bone mineral density (BMD). Aims and Objectives: To assess and evaluate the link between serum vitamin D levels, BMD, and IL-6 levels in osteoporotic pre- and post-menopausal women. Materials and Methods: Three categories are formed among 36 female patients within the age group 30–55 years with osteoporosis: Group-1: Patients within age group 30–40 years; Group-2: Pre-menopausal patients within age group 40–55 years; and Group-3: Postmenopausal patients within age group 40–55 years. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels, IL-6 levels, and BMD scans were also done at baseline (day 0) before vitamin D supplementation and after 6 months of oral vitamin D therapy. Results: The comparison between mean values of IL-6, serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level, and BMD at baseline and at 24th week was highly significant for all three groups, which showed that the post-menopausal group, i.e., Group-3, had the lowest vitamin D levels and the lowest bone mass as compared to the pre-menopausal groups, i.e., Group-2 and Group-1. It was observed that mean values of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and BMD at the 24th week significantly increased and IL-6 values significantly decreased in all the women after 24 weeks of Vitamin D therapy. Conclusion: There is a straight link between vitamin D and BMD in post-menopausal women and an opposite correlation between vitamin D and IL-6.