Women with low levels of Vitamin D levels are at an increased risk of hip fracture, a new study has found.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences led by Jane A. Cauley, Dr.P.H., professor of epidemiology.

As a part of their study, the researchers analysed data of 400 women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study Cohort who had experienced hip fracture, confirmed by their medical record, over a median of 7.1 years.

The researchers compared the levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D, an indicator of vitamin D status, in the bloodstream of these women to a control group matched for age, race, ethnicity and the date of relevant blood work.

The team found that as the concentration of vitamin D decreased in a woman’s body, the risk of hip fractures climbed, and that women with the lowest concentration of the nutrient were at a 77 percent higher risk of having a fracture.

“The risk of hip fractures was 77 percent higher among women whose 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels were at the lowest concentrations,” said Dr. Cauley.

“This effect persisted even when we adjusted for other risk factors such as body mass index, family history of hip fracture, smoking, alcohol use and calcium and vitamin D intake,” she added.

Vitamin D deficiency early in life is associated with rickets – a disorder characterized by soft bones. Though the exact daily requirement of vitamin D has not been determined, most experts think that people need at least 800 to 1,000 international units a day.