Low vitamin d status of patients in methadone maintenance treatment

: To examine the prevalence and risk factors of low vitamin D status (vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency) among patients in a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) program.

: Cross-sectional study of subjects recruited from an MMT program in a higher latitude (Boston, MA).

: Standardized survey and medical record review were used to assess patient characteristics. Serum was tested to determine vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D <20 ng/mL) and insufficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D between 20 and 30 ng/mL). Multivariable analyses were used to assess risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency.

: Low vitamin D status was found in 52% of the subjects (48 of 93), deficiency in 36%, and insufficiency in an additional 16%. Older age (OR = 3.47; 95% CI 1.31-9.22) and black or Hispanic race/ethnicity (OR 3.34; 95% CI 1.30-8.58) were significantly associated with higher risk of vitamin D deficiency.

: Low vitamin D status was present in a majority of patients recruited from an MMT program. This raises the question as to whether this is a generalizable phenomenon and whether these patients are at higher risk of complications of low vitamin D status including bone pain, periodontal disease, osteomalacia, and cardiovascular disease.