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Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to increased hip fracture risk and lower femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), but its relationship to cortical and trabecular bone compartments and bone size remains unclear. We examined associations between serum 25(OH)D and femoral neck and shaft volumetric BMD (vBMD) and size in 888 men aged ≥65 years from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MrOS). Serum 25(OH)D was measured by LC/MS, and femoral measures were obtained via quantitative computed tomography. Multivariable models adjusted for demographic and clinical factors assessed trends across vitamin D quartiles. Higher serum 25(OH)D was positively associated with femoral neck cortical and trabecular vBMD and percent cortical volume, but not overall femoral neck size. Femoral shaft cortical area and percent cortical area also increased with 25(OH)D, while other shaft measures showed no association. These findings suggest that higher vitamin D levels may help preserve cortical bone and inhibit endosteal resorption in older men.