| Objective To investigate serum 25(OH)D level and osteoporosis status in postmenopausal women of urban and rural areas of Urumqi. Methods Women older than 55 years and menopaused for at least 1 year were enrolled. Demographic information, questionnaire, and data on serum 25(OH)D, PTH, ALP, Ca and P were collected. Results (1) 231 women enrolled in the study, 114 from urban and 117 from rural area. (2) Serum 25(OH)D level was 17 (11.75, 23) ng/mL in urban women, higher than the that of rural women 15 (8, 21) ng/mL (P=0.017). The proportion who were 25(OH)D sufficient was higher in urban women than in rural women (10.53% vs 3.42%, P=0.033). (3) In those with low bone density or osteoporosis, urban women had higher serum 25(OH)D3 level than those in rural areas. (4) Among women in the urban area, serum 25(OH)D3 level was negatively correlated with PTH (ρ=0.247, P=0.008); among women in the rural area, serum 25(OH)D3 level was negatively correlated with PTH, ALP and ALB (ρ= 0.344, P<0.001; ρ=0.193, P=0.037; ρ=-0.202, P=0.029), and was positively correlated with lumbar vertebrae density (ρ=0.195, P=0.035). Conclusion The prevalence of osteoporosis in urban and rural post-menopausal women in Urumqi was high, and vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are common. There were differences in serum vitamin D and osteoporosis status between urban and rural postmenopausal women in Urumuqi. |