Effects of seasonal Vitamin D deficiency and respiratory acidosis on bone metabolism markers in submarine crewmembers during prolonged patrols

The aim of the study was to determine the seasonal influence of vitamin D status on bone metabolism in French submariners over a 2-month patrol. Blood samples were collected as follows: pre-patrol, patrol days 20, 41 and 58 on crewmembers from both a winter (WP; n = 20) and a summer patrol (SP; n = 20), respectively. Vitamin D status was evaluated for WP and SP. Moreover, extended parameters for acid-base balance (pCO(2), pH and bicarbonate), bone metabolism (bone alkaline phosphatase or BAP and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen or ICTP) and mineral homeostasis (parathyroid hormone, ionized calcium and phosphorus) were scrutinized. Holy X, Collombet JM, Labarthe F, Granger-Veyron N, Begot L. J Appl Physiol. 2011 Dec 1. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22134698