Evaluation of the Status of Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2 of Bangladeshi Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Postmenopause is the name given to the time when a woman stops periodical bleeding for an entire year. In this stage of postmenopause, women remain at increased risk of several health anomalies, such as osteoporosis, diabetes, vision problem, dental problem, and heart disease. Hence, the purpose of the study was to assess the status of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 [menaquinone-4 (MK-4)] among Bangladeshi postmenopausal women especially those confined to Dhaka city. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was done in the Retired Government Employees Hospital in the year 2019 where 55 postmenopausal women below 60 years were selected. The blood sample was collected from them and the level of serum vitamin D3 [25(OH)D] and vitamin K2 [menaquinone-4 (MK-4)] were determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Binary logistic regression was used for model fitness and its significance. Results: The mean ages of the postmenopausal women were 55.80±3.55 years. Their body mass index and waist-hip ratio were 26.03±2.66 kg/m2 and 0.93±0.05 cm, respectively. Serum levels of vitamin D3 [25(OH) D] and menaquinone-4 (MK-4) from postmenopausal women were 14.80±6.36 ng/mL and0.38±0.21 ng/mL, respectively. The regression model used in this study was 74% fit, and diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), dental problems, vision problems, and hearing problems were significant for postmenopausal women. However, serum vitamin D3 and serum vitamin K2 were non-significant at the 5% significance level. A high incidence of insufficient serum vitamin D3 [25(OH) D] level and sufficient serum vitamin K2 (MK-4) level were found among postmenopausal women with pre-obese and high waist-hip ratio (WHR). Conclusion: The level of serum vitamin D3 and K2 and their correlation with BMI, WHR, and overall health status may provide insight to medical professionals and dietitians to take necessary action to address various health issues faced by postmenopausal women.