Calciotropic Hormones and the Prevalence of Vertebral Fractures in Chinese Postmenopausal Women with Vitamin D Insufficiency: Peking Vertebral Fracture Study

This case–control study aimed to examine the effect of high serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level, especially the effect of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) related to hypovitaminosis D, on bone metabolism and bone phenotypes. We included a total of 830 Chinese postmenopausal women aged ≥ 50 years with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level 0.05). Increasing PTH was associated with an increased risk of VFs independent of 25(OH)D and BMD [odds ratio (OR) per SD increase in PTH 1.016, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.006–1.027]. Moreover, women with SHPT (i.e., > 68 pg/ml) had about three times odds for VF compared to women with normal PTH levels (OR 3.270, 95% CI 1.581–6.760). These data suggest that evaluated serum PTH level might promote the bone remodeling and then lead to increased risks of VFs among Chinese postmenopausal women with vitamin D insufficiency.