Bone mineral density and serum vitamin D status in Parkinson's disease: Are the stage and clinical features of the disease important?

BACKGROUND

Although it is well known that patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have low bone mineral density (BMD) and serum vitamin D level, there are no studies evaluating their relationship with the stage and clinical features of the PD.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between BMD and serum vitamin D level and stage or clinical features of the PD.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

One hundred twenty-four patients with PD recruited from Movement Disorders Outpatient Clinic and age- and sex-matched 116 healthy controls were included in the study. BMD and serum vitamin D level of all participants were measured. After patients had been divided into four groups according to Hoehn and Yahr (H and Y) staging, a total of 5 groups with controls, BMD (lumbar and femoral) and serum vitamin D level were compared between groups. The relationship between the clinical features of the PD [disease duration, medication history, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part II and III, and subscores of UPDRS part III] and BMD or vitamin D was investigated.

RESULTS

Lumbar and femoral BMD values and serum vitamin D level were significantly lower in patients with PD compared to controls. Low BMD and low serum vitamin D level were identified in the early stages of the disease (H and Y stage 1 and 1.5) and were marked by the progress of the stage of the disease. There was a negative relationship between the clinical features of the PD and both BMD and serum vitamin D level.

CONCLUSION

All patients with PD should be screened for developing osteoporosis and for sufficient vitamin D level in the early stages of the disease. Preventive methods for bone quality should be taken into consideration at the onset of PD.