[Vitamin D deficiency as one of the causes of bone changes in chronic pancreatitis].

Chronic pancreatitis is a longlasting inflammatory disease manifested clinically in the advanced stage by malabsorption syndrome. Its manifestations include also changes in the calcium metabolism and the occurrence of osteoporosis and osteomalacia or their combination. The objective of the study was to assess the vitamin D3 blood concentration in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The group comprised 15 patients (8 men and 7 women), median age 45.0 years. The authors found a significantly reduced serum concentration of vitamin D3 (p < 0.01) in patients with chronic pancreatitis. They assume that vitamin D deficiency is one of the decisive causes of bone complications in prolonged pancreatitis. Supplementation with vitamin D or its metabolites is then a necessary part of preventive and therapeutic provisions.