Background. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in all the world countries. Recent studies show the correlation between vitamin D deficiency and musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study is to examine vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency prevalence in patients of various ages, who have musculoskeletal disorders, and to reveal the influence of seasonal factors on these conditions. Materials and methods. 3460 patients of the Ukrainian scientific Medical Center of Osteoporosis Problems, aged 1 to 92 years, who were referred by other specialists to the center for bone state evaluation, were examined. A majority of the patients presented with osteoporosis and its complications, spinal osteochondrosis, knee and hip osteoarthritis (mean age-52.90 ± 21.10 years). Most of the patients were women (83.5 %). 25(ОН)D and parathyroid hormone analyses were performed by means of electrochemiluminescent method (Elecsys 2010 analyzer, Roche Diagnostics, Germany) and cobas test-systems. statistica 6.0 software package (Copyright statsoft, Inc., 1984-2001) was also used. Results. Among the patients with musculoskeletal pathology, the highest 25(ОН)D level was noted in the age group of 1-9 years and the lowest-in the age group of 80 and over. Age negatively influenced 25(ОН)D values. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the patients with musculoskeletal pathology was 37.3 %, vitamin D insufficiency-30.6 %; 32.1 % of patients had normal vitamin D status. Normal 25(OH)D level was found in 38.0 % of children, 33.2 % of adults and in 29.6 % of elderly patients. Month of blood sampling had a significant influence on 25(ОН)D content (F = 7.49; p < 0.001). The highest significant differences in 25(ОН)D levels during the summer vs. winter months were observed in the age groups of 10-19 (18.2 %), 40-49 (17.3 %), 30-39 (16.2 %) и 1-9 years (16.1 %). There were no significant seasonal differences observed in the elderly patients (60 years and older) with musculoskeletal pathology. Conclusions. Despite the combined calcium and vitamin D supplementation in most patients with musculoskeletal pathology, only 37.9 % of children, 33.2 % of adults and 29.6 % of the elderly people had normal 25(ОН)D values and thus required screening examination of vitamin D level in patients with musculoskeletal disorders and additional vitamin D prescription (Guidelines for the Central and Eastern Europe).

Data from previous studies demonstrate the high frequency of deficiency and insufficiency of vitamin D in Ukraine, as in the world, which varies depending on the age and gender of the population, the season, the region of residence, and the type of concomitant pathology. The purpose of the study was to assess the vitamin D status in the Ukraine population during 2016-2022 years depending on age, sex, month, and year of observation. In a single-center cohort study, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level was analyzed in 7105 subjects aged 20-99 years. The analysis was performed depending on age, sex, month, and year of observation. The mean serum 25(OH)D level in the total group was 30.9 [22.1-41.0] ng/ml, the lowest level was in the age group 90-99 years old and the highest one was in the subjects aged 40-69 years old. 52.7% of the subjects had a sufficient vitamin D level, 27.4% had insufficiency, and 19.9% had a deficiency of vitamin D. No gender differences were found in the serum level of 25(OH)D, except the one for the women aged 60-69 years old, who had higher vitamin D levels compared to males parameters. Seasonal 25(OH)D levels variations indicated the highest values in September and October and the lowest ones in February and March. Additionally, we established the increase of serum 25(OH)D from 2016 to 2021 with the highest values in 2020 and 2021. Our data confirmed a decrease in vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in 2021 and 2022 in the Ukrainian population compared to previous years (2016-2019) and previous studies in the Ukrainian population while maintaining their age-related and seasonal characteristics. It may be associated with an improvement in public awareness of global vitamin D deficiency and its positive skeletal and extraskeletal effects, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years.

Background. Data from numerous studies indicate a significant prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Ukraine and the world. In recent years, the Ukrainian medical community has faced two important challenges — the COVID-19 pandemic and the russian aggression, which significantly affected the organization and availability of medical care. Despite the previous epidemiological studies in Ukraine devoted to the vitamin D status, there are no data during the past 5 years that became the background for this research. The purpose was to analyze the vitamin D status in the adult population of Ukraine during the COVID-19 pandemic and russian aggression. Materials and methods. Data of the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in 5029 adults aged 20–99 years, who for various reasons applied for its measurement, were retrospectively analyzed. The analysis was performed depending on the year and month of observation, the age and gender of the subjects, and the 25(OH)D level. Results. The mean serum level of 25(OH)D in the total group was 33.2 [24.1–43.8] ng/ml. The assessment of the number of 25(OH)D tests for 2018–2022 did not reveal any signi­ficant differences in 2018 and 2019 but established a significant decrease during the russian aggression in Ukraine in 2022 (by 55.7 %) compared to 2018, as well as indices during the COVID-19 pandemic (by 21.6 % compared to 2020, by 23.5 % in 2021). During the observation period, it was established a decrease in the vitamin D deficiency proportion from 20.6 % in 2018 to 9.3 % in 2022, and an increase in the proportion of subjects with suboptimal (from 6.6 to 11.4 %, respectively) and high serum concentrations of 25(OH)D (from 2.2 to 12.7 %). Conclusions. Our results indicate a grown serum 25(OH)D level during 2020–2022 in the adult population of Ukraine compared to the indices of previous years and a decreased share of vitamin D deficiency in the Ukrainian population. In addition, a decrease in the number of 25(OH)D level tests was established, especially during the period of the russian aggression, which should be taken into account during the planning measures to optimize the vitamin D status in the adult population of Ukraine.

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Background. The purpose of the study is to determine the serum level of N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) in healthy men and women of various ages. Materials and methods. The study included 1,568 individuals (1,422 females and 146 males, aged 20-89 years (mean age 60.36 ± 13.68 yrs). All patients were divided into 7 groups, by decades and according to the gerontological age classification: young age-20-44 yrs, middle age 45-59 yrs, elderly 60-74 yrs, and old 75-89 yrs. During the study, we examined the effect of such demographic characteristics, as age and gender, on serum PINP level, using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay ECLIA on the cobas e 411 analyzer. Results. We have detected no significant effect of age on the serum variability of PINP in females (F = 1.453, p = 0.19). However, we observed a significant decrease of PINP level in the female age groups of 40-49 yrs (47.74 ± 21.31, p = 0.02), 60-69 yrs (49.76 ± 25.75, p = 0.03), 70-79 yrs (50.49 ± 26.71, p = 0.04), compared with the age group of 20-29 yrs (58.67 ± 27.46). The regression analysis revealed a significant decrease of PINP level with age in young women and men (20-44 years). When comparing serum PINP level in the oldest age group (80-89 years), we detected its increase in women (55.20 ± 28.38 ng/ml), compared with the 70-79 years group (50.49 ± 26.71 ng/ml), and its decrease in men (54.87 ± 28.24 and 39.16 ± 12.46 ng/ml, respectively). In men, we revealed significant effect of age on the serum variability of PINP (F = 3,077, p = 0.007). Conclusions. The regression analysis showed a significant decrease in PINP level with age in men and women of 20-44 years. In men, we detected a significant effect of age on the variability of serum PINP level. A comparison of serum PINP levels in the oldest age group of 80-89 revealed its increase in women, compared to the 70-79 age group, and decrease in men. The obtained results may be used as reference values for PINP level in serum among representatives of the Ukrainian population of various ages and sexes.