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