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Clinical Trial
. 2003 Aug 12;61(3):338-42.
doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000078892.24356.90.

Amelioration of osteoporosis and hypovitaminosis D by sunlight exposure in stroke patients

Yoshihiro Sato  1 , Norifumi Metoki, Jun Iwamoto, Kei Satoh
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Amelioration of osteoporosis and hypovitaminosis D by sunlight exposure in stroke patients

Yoshihiro Sato et al. Neurology. .

Erratum in

  • Neurology. 2008 Mar 18;70(12):982

Retraction in

Abstract

Background: The authors' previous investigations have disclosed low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentrations in 45 patients during long-term hospitalization following stroke (mean 5.9 ng/mL). This 25-OHD deficiency resulted from sunlight deprivation.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of sunlight exposure in increasing serum 25-OHD, in reducing the severity of osteoporosis in bone mineral density (BMD), and in decreasing the risk of hip fractures in chronically hospitalized, disabled stroke patients.

Methods: In a 12-month randomized and prospective study of stroke patients, 129 received regular sunlight exposure for 12 months, and the remaining 129 (sunlight-deprived) did not.

Results: At baseline, patients of both groups showed vitamin D deficiency. BMD increased by 3.1% in the sunlight-exposed group and decreased by 3.3% in the sunlight-deprived group (p = 0.0001). 25-OHD level increased by fourfold in the sunlight-exposed group. Six patients sustained hip fractures on the hemiplegic side in the sunlight-deprived group, and one hip fracture occurred among the sunlight-exposed group (p = 0421; odds ratio = 6.1).

Conclusion: Sunlight exposure can increase the BMD of vitamin D-deficient bone by increasing 25-OHD concentration.

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