Association between calcium-phosphorus balance and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A meta-analysis

What was studied?

The study investigated the association between calcium-phosphorus balance and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) through a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control and cross-sectional studies.

Who was studied?

The meta-analysis included a total of 646 AIS cases and 791 controls, comprising adolescents from various countries, with a focus on sex and menstruation status for subgroup analysis.

What were the most important findings?

AIS patients had significantly lower serum levels of vitamin D compared to controls [MD = −6.74, 95% CI (−9.47, −4.00)].

AIS patients also had lower calcium levels [SMD= −0.77, 95% CI (−1.51, −0.02)].

There was no statistical difference in phosphorus levels [SMD=0.5, 95% CI (−0.46, 0.57)] or parathyroid hormone levels [SMD = −0.11, 95% CI (−0.54, −0.31)].

Vitamin D levels were not affected by gender or menstruation status in AIS patients.

What are the greatest implications of this study?

The findings suggest that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of AIS by disrupting calcium-phosphorus metabolism, thus affecting bone health. This highlights the potential importance of screening for vitamin D levels in AIS patients and considering vitamin D supplementation as part of AIS management strategies. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms involved and explore additional factors contributing to AIS.