The effect of vitamin D supplementation on bone mineral density in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer

Abstract

It has demonstrated that there is a connection between chronic TSH suppressive treatment and the reduction of bone mineral density (BMD) or the development of osteoporosis in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The aim of the study was to determine the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on BMD and the development of osteoporosis in patients with DTC. Two hundred four (204) patients with a diagnosis of DTC were included. All patients received thyroid hormone replacement therapy along with vitamin D (5000IU/day). Data including age, gender, body mass index, smoking, menopausal status, family history of osteoporosis, and postoperative duration were collected. The serum levels of TSH, calcium, 25-OH-vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone measurements and BMD by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were performed on whole patients. The mean age of patients was 56.20±9.31 years. With osteoporosis, 22 of the patients were female (10.8%) and 1 was male (0.5%). Twenty one (21) females with OP were postmenopausal state. There was a statistically significant difference between osteoporosis and age, menopausal status, and family history of osteoporosis, but not for the other factors. Although there was no statistically significant difference between osteoporosis and the levels of TSH and vitamin D, most patients with osteoporosis had TSH<0.5 mIU/mL (n=18) and vitamin D<30 ng/mL (n=16). Age and family history of osteoporosis were identified as independent predictive factors for developing osteoporosis. Vitamin D may be considered as a supplemental and supportive treatment in patients with thyroid cancer for preventing cancer recurrence and osteoporosis.

Keywords

• Differentiated thyroid cancer
• TSH suppressive therapy
• osteoporosis
• vitamin D

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