[Vitamin D metabolism of the bone]
1Institut für Osteologie und Biomechanik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Deutschland. fbarvenc@uke.uni-hamburg.de.
Background:
Bone health is a crucial requirement for individual mobility. Preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic actions to preserve or restore bone health are major tasks for orthopedic surgeons and health practitioners in musculoskeletal medicine.
Results:
In the context of the widespread vitamin D deficiency in Germany, it is relevant to keep in mind thatserum calcitriol levels above > 30 µg/l are necessary for optimal bone metabolism and bone health. In particular, because vitamin D deficiency not only increases the amount of non-mineralized bone matrix (osteoid), but it can also cause negative changes in the mineralized bone tissue. Widening of the osteons and osteocyte lacunae, together with increased bone aging under the osteoid layer, can lead to reduced fracture resistance.
Conclusion:
Integration of bone metabolism into the orthopedic strategy is an important concept for optimizing treatment in modern musculoskeletal medicine.
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