The Effect of Vitamin D Deficiency on the Lipids of Bone Matrix 1

Abstract

Summary

The bones of control and vitamin D-deficient animals have been analyzed to determine whether the D-deficient state affects the lipids extractable from these bones. A decrease in serum calcium and an increase in serum phosphorus was noted and all D-deficient animals had an increase in the percentage of the organic fraction of the bones. There was an increase in the total lipids extractable from the epiphysis, metaphysic, and diaphysis; and a significant increase was found in the diaphyseal phospholipids and cholesterol. Significant decrease was noted in the metaphyseal fatty acid and an increase in the diaphyseal fatty acid, There was a decrease in the metaphyseal triglyceride and an increase in the diaphyseal triglyceride. It is concluded that perhaps there is an arrest in the conversion of neutral fats to phospholipids but that vitamin D-deficiency does not have a primary effect on phospholipid metabolism.