Prevalence and Determinants of a Blunted Parathyroid Hormone Response in Young Saudi Women with Vitamin D Deficiency: A Cross-Sectional Study

Hanan Al Kadi

doi:10.1155/2021/5579484

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among the Saudi population. Increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion is an appropriate homeostatic response to correct the resultant hypocalcemia. However, not all vitamin D deficiency patients have increased PTH levels. This study determined the prevalence of a blunted PTH response to vitamin D deficiency among apparently healthy young Saudi women and assessed anthropometric and biochemical factors associated with this response by performing a secondary analysis of data obtained from a cross-sectional study conducted at the “Center of Excellence for Osteoporosis research.” Overall, 315 women (aged 20–45 years) with vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels <30 nmol/L) were included. They were divided into two groups according to the laboratory cutoff value of PTH (<7 or ≥7 pmol/L), and anthropometric and biochemical characteristics of both groups were compared. Women with a blunted PTH response (n = 62, 19.7%) had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001) and smaller waist circumference (P=0.001). They also had significantly higher serum 25(OH)D (P=0.001), corrected serum calcium (P < 0.001), and phosphate (P=0.003) levels than those with an elevated PTH response (n = 253, 80.3%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that lower BMI (OR = 0.925; 95% CI: 0.949–0.987) and higher 25(OH)D (OR = 1.068; 95% CI: 1.014–1.124) and serum calcium (OR = 8.600; 95% CI: 1.614–45.809) levels were significantly associated with a blunted PTH response (R2 = 0.178). A blunted PTH response to vitamin D deficiency is mainly observed among women with lower BMI. Higher serum calcium and 25(OH)D levels and lower BMI were significant predictors of a blunted PTH response, which may indicate that these subjects are adapting to lower 25(OH)D levels and maintaining normal calcium levels without the need to increase PTH secretion. The mechanisms underlying this adaptation are unclear, and future studies to explore these mechanisms are warranted.

Highlights

Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread health problem among women living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. [1, 2]. e active form of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol) stimulates calcium absorption from the gut; vitamin D deficiency leads to malabsorption of dietary calcium, leading to hypocalcemia. e appropriate homeostatic response to hypocalcemia is increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion from the parathyroid glands
Not all women exhibit this increase in PTH levels. is blunted PTH response has been termed “functional hypoparathyroidism” [3]. is blunted response has been explained by different mechanisms, including low plasma magnesium level [4, 5], high dietary calcium intake [6], local adaptive mechanisms regulating intestinal calcium absorption, the so-called “intestinal calcistat” [7], and diurnal variations in PTH secretion [8]
Postmenopausal women with functional hypoparathyroidism exhibit higher bone mineral density than women with an elevated PTH response and, may have lower fracture risks [9]. is is expected as PTH exerts an osteoclastic function on the bone [10] to correct hypocalcemia secondary to vitamin D deficiency

Summary

Introduction

Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread health problem among women living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. [1, 2]. e active form of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol) stimulates calcium absorption from the gut; vitamin D deficiency leads to malabsorption of dietary calcium, leading to hypocalcemia. e appropriate homeostatic response to hypocalcemia is increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion from the parathyroid glands. Erefore, this study determined the prevalence of a blunted PTH response among otherwise healthy young Saudi women with vitamin D deficiency and assessed its associated anthropometric and biochemical factors.

Results

Conclusion