Reference intervals for serum 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and the ratio with 25-hydroxyvitamin D established using a newly developed LC-MS/MS method

J Nutr Biochem. 2017 Aug:46:21-29. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2017.04.005. Epub 2017 Apr 12.

Abstract

24,25(OH)2D is the product of 25(OH)D catabolism by CYP24A1. The measurement of serum 24,25(OH)2D concentration may serve as an indicator of vitamin D catabolic status and the relative ratio with 25(OH)D can be used to identify patients with inactivating mutations in CYP24A1. We describe a LC-MS/MS method to determine: (1) the relationships between serum 24,25(OH)2D and 25(OH)D; (2) serum reference intervals in healthy individuals; (3) the diagnostic accuracy of 24,25(OH)2D measurement as an indicator for vitamin D status; 4) 24,25(OH)2D cut-off value for clinically significant change between inadequate and sufficient 25(OH)D status. Serum samples of healthy participants (n=1996) from Army recruits and patients (n=294) were analysed. The LC-MS/MS assay satisfied industry standards for method validation. We found a positive, concentration-dependent relationship between serum 24,25(OH)2D and 25(OH)2D concentrations. The 25(OH)D:24,25(OH)2D ratio was significantly higher (P<.001) at 25(OH)D<50 nmol/L. The reference interval for 25(OH)D:24,25(OH)2D ratio in healthy subjects was 7-23. Measurement of serum 24,25(OH)2D can be used as predictor of vitamin D status, a concentration of>4.2 nmol/L was identified as a diagnostic cut-off for 25(OH)D replete status. One patient sample with an elevated 25(OH)D:24,25(OH)2D ratio of 32 and hypercalcaemia who on genetic testing confirmed to have a biallelic mutation of CYP24A1. Our study demonstrated the feasibility of a combined 24,25(OH)2D and 25(OH)D assessment profile. Our established cut-off value for 24,25(OH)2D and ratio reference ranges can be useful to clinicians in the investigation of patients with an impaired calcium/phosphate metabolism and may point towards the existence of CYP24A1 gene abnormalities.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Calcium / blood
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypercalcemia / blood
  • Hypercalcemia / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin D3 24-Hydroxylase / genetics

Substances

  • 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D
  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • CYP24A1 protein, human
  • Vitamin D3 24-Hydroxylase
  • Calcium