Maintenance of bone strength in aged rats: the Vitamin D requirement [ 2007 - 2009 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Howard Morris (Principal investigator) ,  A/Pr Brian May ,  Dr Peter O'Loughlin

Brief description Hip fracture remains the most devastating of the osteoporotic fractures particularly in women in whom the incidence increases to about 3% per annum by the ninth decade. This incidence is bound to increase as the population ages with increasing longevity. Supplementation of diets of elderly female nursing home residents with vitamin D and calcium has been shown to reduce the risk of hip fracture by 30% in two years. However we do not know how much vitamin D is necessary to maintain optimal bone strength. This project will determine the level of vitamin D required to maintain optimal bone strength in aged rats using a simple blood test which could then be used to screen the elderly and identify those at risk of hip fracture from low vitamin D levels. The project will also investigate the effects of vitamin D on the bone cells that maintain optimal skeletal architecture. This information is essential for comparison with the current knowledge of other biochemical bone markets in blood and vitamin D status in the elderly, in order to develop nutritional recommendations to reduce the incidence of hip fracture.

Funding Amount $AUD 543,301.76

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant