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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Bone density and cortical thickness in nutritional vitamin D deficiency: effect of secondary hyperparathyroidism
1Department of Chemical Pathology, Royal Free Hospital and School of Medicine, London, UK.
Abstract:
Measurements of bone mineral index, mean metacarpal cortical thickness, plasma calcium, alkaline phosphatase and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone concentrations were carried out in 39 Asian vegetarian patients with hypovitaminosis D. It was concluded that PTH is probably the major determinant of osteopenia in patients with osteomalacia and secondary hyperparathyroidism; and that the presence of secondary hyperparathyroidism in association with hypovitaminosis D should be an absolute indication for vitamin D supplementation even in asymptomatic patients.
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