Associations of bone health biomarkers and bone mineral density with dietary intakes in vitamin D deficient women: a cross-sectional study

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Scientific Reports

Abstract

Vitamin D, an essential nutrient for bone health, is widely deficient in India despite abundant sunlight. The prevalence ranges between 70 and 90% in adult women. We studied the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency and the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, bone mineral density, and dietary intakes in young urban women. Among 220 women screened, 84.7% of participants had suboptimal vitamin D (64.5% deficient 20.2% insufficient). In 108 vitamin D deficient women, 75% reported below 15 min of daily sun exposure. Dietary calcium intake was 480.6 ± 117.7 mg/day. Serum 25(OH)D was negatively correlated with PTH (⍴ = − 0.364, p < 0.001) and osteocalcin (⍴ = − 0.342, p < 0.001). Osteocalcin was positively correlated with dietary calcium (⍴ = 0.228, p < 0.01), Ca: P (⍴ = 0.240, p < 0.01) and milk intake (⍴ = 0.226, p < 0.01). Positive associations were observed between osteocalcin and Ca: P ratio [β = 23.58, 95% CI: -0.614 to 47.771, p = 0.056] and with milk intake [β = 0.03, 95% CI: -0.001 to 0.065, p = 0.058]. The coexistence of vitamin D deficiency with inadequate calcium intake, and limited sun exposure, underscores the importance of strategies to promote calcium-rich diets and adequate sunlight practices to support bone health.

DOI

10.1038/s41598-025-27321-1

Publication Date

12-1-2025

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