Comparison of Levels of Vitamin D, Vitamin D Receptor and Vitamin D Binding Protein in Women with Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

Aims Osteopenia describes a decrease in bone mineral density below normal reference values, yet not low enough to meet the diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of vitamin D, vitamin D receptor and vitamin D binding protein in women with osteoporosis and osteopenia. Instruments & Methods This descriptive study was conducted on 110 postmenopausal women aged 52 to 73 years who referred to Baghdad Medical City Hospital from January 2021 to October 2021. Subjects were divided into three groups based on T-score results: control, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. Blood samples were collected from each participant to assess biochemical tests and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry used to diagnose osteoporosis. Findings There was no significant difference in vitamin D and vitamin D receptor levels between the groups (p>0.05). Vitamin D binding protein level in healthy group was significantly higher than osteoporosis group (p=0.005), and DBP level in osteopenia was significantly higher than osteoporosis (p=0.001), but there was no significant difference between healthy and osteopenia groups (p=0.53). Differences between groups were significant in terms of bone mineral density (p<0.001). Conclusion Comparison of levels of vitamin D, vitamin D receptor, and vitamin D-binding protein among women with osteoporosis and osteopenia, despite differences between the two groups in bone mineral density, does not show a significant difference.