Serum sclerostin is decreased following vitamin D treatment in young vitamin D-deficient female adults.

Sclerostin is produced almost exclusively by osteocytes, which also express receptors for 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin D3 treatment on serum sclerostin levels in young adult females with severe vitamin D deficiency. A total of 26 subjects were treated orally with calcium (1.200 mg/day for 2 months) and vitamin D3 (300.000 IU/week for 1 month). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and sclerostin levels were measured before and after treatment. Baseline serum 25(OH)D and sclerostin levels were at 5.7 ± 2.4 ng/mL and 39.1 ± 14.4 pg/mL, respectively. Serum 25(OH)D was significantly increased, to 62.4 ± 18.7 ng/mL, following treatment; serum sclerostin was significantly decreased, to 29.3 ± 8.8 pg/mL. We conclude that serum sclerostin level is decreased following vitamin D3 treatment in patients with vitamin D deficiency.