Vitamin D abnormalities in Thai patients with spinal cord injuries
Article Category: Brief communication (Original)
Published Online: Mar 31, 2017
Page range: 595 - 601
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5372/1905-7415.1006.528
Keywords
© 2016 Thanyaphon Khammeree, Ratana Vichiansiri, Kittisak Sawanyawisuth, Nuttaset Manimmanakorn
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.
Background
Thai patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at risk of hypovitaminosis D. Data regarding prevalence and factors associated with low vitamin D levels in Asian patients with SCI are limited. Sunlight is considered adequate for vitamin D generation in tropical countries, but dietary factors may play a role in vitamin D deficiency in Thai patients with SCI.
Objectives
To determine the prevalence and factors associated with low vitamin D levels in Thai patients with SCI.
Methods
Were enrolled patients who were treated for SCI at Khon Kaen University Hospital between August 2013 and April 2014. Inclusion criteria were ≥18 years old and diagnosed as having an SCI of >3 months. Patients were excluded if they had bone cancer, stroke, cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease, were pregnant, or were taking medications that might affect vitamin D levels, including supplements. Vitamin D levels and histories of sunlight exposure, diet, and sunscreen use were studied.
Results
During the study period, 85 patients met inclusion criteria. Low vitamin D levels were found in 52 (61%). Two factors were found significantly associated with low vitamin D levels by multivariate logistic regression analysis: sunlight exposure of <2 times/week and low mushroom consumption. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for these factors were 7.72 (1.09, 54.27) and 0.066 (0.009, 0.490) respectively.
Conclusions
The prevalence of low vitamin D levels in Thai patients with SCI was 61%. Factors associated with low vitamin D levels in SCI patients were the frequency of sunlight exposure and mushroom consumption.