The study of serum vitamin D levels in patients with spinal cord injuries

Purpose: To determine the serum levels of vitamin D and calcium in patients with spinal cord injuries and their association with the scope of the lesion and the time passed since its inception. Materials and Methods: The participants were 147 spinal cord injured patients with the required criteria who had referred to our center. A questionnaire was filled for all of them to gather demographic details and then they were examined by a specialist. Blood sample was taken to determine the serum level of their 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Results: The mean of calcium and vitamin D serum levels were 8.33 mg/dL and 15.30 ng/mL, respectively. Of the participants, 64.6% had vitamin D deficiency and 18.4% had insufficient level of vitamin D. Only in 7.5% of the patients the level of vitamin D was sufficient. In addition, 50.3% of the participants were afflicted with hypocalcaemia and the rest had normal level of calcium. Conclusion: According our study many of spinal cord injured patients suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Considering the major complications caused by deficiency of vitamin D, prevention and treatment of this complication appears to be crucial in such patients