Question

When 32 people in Massachusetts experienced an unexplained episode of vitamin D intoxication that required hospitalization, it was suggested that these unusual occurrences might be the result of excessive supplementation of dairy milk. Blood levels of calcium (mmol/l) and albumin (g/l) for each individual at the time of hospital admission are shown in the file vitaminD.csv. a) Create a R data set from file vitaminD.csv. Use PROC MEANS to calculate the sample mean and sample standard deviation for blood levels of calcium and albumin. b) Construct a 99% confidence interval for the true mean calcium level of individuals who experience vitamin D intoxication. c) Construct a 99% confidence interval for the true mean albumin level of this group. d) For healthy individuals, the normal range of calcium value is 2.12 to 2.74 mmol/l and the range of albumin levels is 32 to 55 g/l. Do you believe that patients suffering from vitamin D intoxication have normal blood levels of calcium and albumin??

Answer 1

Patients experiencing vitamin D intoxication likely have blood calcium levels outside the normal range due to hypercalcemia, disrupting calcium homeostasis and leading to serious health issues. R data analysis can calculate the mean and standard deviation and construct confidence intervals to support this assessment.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering instances of vitamin D intoxication resulting in elevated blood calcium levels, it is important to understand the concept of calcium homeostasis, which is the maintenance of normal calcium levels in the blood, around 10 mg/dL. For healthy individuals, the normal range of serum calcium is 2.12 to 2.74 mmol/L and normal albumin levels range from 32 to 55 g/L. These ranges are critical for maintaining proper body functions such as blood coagulation, muscle contraction, nerve functioning, and bone strength.

The involvement of PTH (parathyroid hormone), vitamin D, and calcitonin in maintaining calcium homeostasis is significant as they regulate the interactions of various organ systems such as the skeletal, endocrine, digestive, and urinary systems. Hypercalcemia, which is a high calcium level in the blood, can lead to symptoms such as lethargy, confusion, and even coma. Therefore, patients with vitamin D intoxication, shown by significantly elevated calcium levels, likely do not have normal blood levels and require medical attention.

With regard to the creation of R data sets and the calculation of mean and standard deviation using PROC MEANS, it is the task of data analysis within a statistical software environment. Confidence intervals can be constructed to estimate the true mean levels of calcium and albumin in a population, and if these fall outside the normal ranges, it may suggest an abnormality due to vitamin D intoxication.