Evaluation of an Automated Competitive Protein-Binding Assay for 25-Hydroxyvitamin D.

Background: The measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is of increasing importance in the management of patients with mineral disorders. However, there are a great variety of test results for 25-hyroxyvitamin D depending on the method used. In this report a new automated method provided by Roche diagnostics (Elecsys Vitamin D Total assay) and the previously marketed method are compared to a reference method (Immundiagnostik ELISA).

[Vitamin D deficiency: diagnosis and treatment].

Vitamin D deficiency has a major effect on various chronic diseases. In view of this, even a mild deficiency should be considered a reason for initiating supplementation. Apart from such clinical signs as muscular and skeletal complaints, determination of calcium in the urine and serum, together with the measured laboratory values of phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxy vitamin D and parathormone form the basis for the diagnosis.

Alfacalcidol versus plain vitamin D in inflammation induced bone loss.

Inflammatory diseases lead to systemic osteoporosis. Causal factors include increased circulating concentrations of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), glucocorticoid medication, and reduced physical activity. In addition, disturbances of vitamin D metabolism play an important role for the development of inflammation induced osteoporosis.