Knee surgery reduced vitamin D by 40 percent in 2 days – May 2011

The relation between acute changes in the systemic inflammatory response and plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations after elective knee arthroplasty.

Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 May;93(5):1006-11. Epub 2011 Mar 16.
Reid D, Toole BJ, Knox S, Talwar D, Harten J, O'Reilly DS, Blackwell S, Kinsella J, McMillan DC, Wallace AM.
Department of Anaesthesia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Studies indicate that low plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is associated with a range of disease processes, many of which are inflammatory. However, other lipid-soluble vitamins decrease during the systemic inflammatory response, and this response may confound the interpretation of plasma 25(OH)D.

OBJECTIVE:The objective was to examine whether plasma 25(OH)D concentrations change during evolution of the systemic inflammatory response.

DESIGN: Patients (n = 33) who underwent primary knee arthroplasty had venous blood samples collected preoperatively and postoperatively (beginning 6-12 h after surgery and on each morning for 5 d) for the measurement of 25(OH) D, vitamin D-binding protein, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, C-reactive protein, and albumin. A final sample was collected at 3 mo.

RESULTS: Preoperatively, most patients were 25(OH)D deficient (<50 nmol/L) and had secondary hyperparathyroidism (PTH > 5 pmol/L). Age, sex, body mass index, season, medical history, and medication use were not associated with significant differences in preoperative plasma 25(OH)D concentrations. By day 2 there was a large increase in C-reactive protein concentrations (P < 0.001) and a significant decrease in 25(OH)D of 40% (P < 0.001). C-reactive protein, 25(OH)D, and calculated free 25(OH)D had not returned to preoperative concentrations by 5 d postoperatively (all P < 0.001). At 3 mo, 25(OH)D and free 25(OH)D remained significantly lower (20% and 30%, respectively; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Plasma concentrations of 25(OH)D decrease after an inflammatory insult and therefore are unlikely to be a reliable measure of 25(OH)D status in subjects with evidence of a significant systemic inflammatory response.

PMID: 21411617

---

See also Vitamin D Life

• All items in Category After surgery or trauma 278 items
• Total knee arthroplasty – worse outcome if low vitamin D – 2016, 17, 18, 2019
• Inflammation or surgery or heart attack decreases measured vitamin D levels – Mar 2011
• Low vitamin D before orthopedic surgery – dark skin 5X more likely – Oct 2010
• Pro-inflammatory cytokines cause the 74 percent drop in vitamin D after knee arthroplasty – Feb 2014

CLICK HERE for Clinical Trials on knee and vitamin D

about 30 trials as of March 2017

See Musculoskeletal at Vitamin D Council

Clipped from a report on a Q/A by the Vitamin D Council of this study ProHealth July 2011

"A reader reported that his wife’s vitamin D level went from 70 ng/ml shortly before she was seriously injured in an auto accident to 32 shortly after, and wondered if there are any studies on vitamin D’s role in trauma response.

Dr. Cannell responded by citing this recent study showing that “having a knee replacement (‘an inflammatory insult’]) used up tremendous amounts of vitamin D.” The average reduction in serum D was 40% by day 2.