01.26.23
Taking a vitamin D supplement may reduce the risk of developing dynapenia, a condition characterized by age-related loss of strength.
In a study appearing in Calcified Tissue International, 3,205 participants were sampled from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) over the age of 50 who were observed for four years, and all participants either had osteoporosis or serum 25(OH)D deficiency at baseline.
None of the participants had dynapenia at the beginning of the study, and dynapenia was measured using a grip strength test at the end of the four-year study period.
30% of the study participants had a vitamin D deficiency at baseline, defined as less than 30 nmol/L, while 22% of study participants were insufficient, which is defined as a serum 25(OH)D concentration of less than 50 nmol/L.
At the end of the study, the incidence density of dynapenia was 13.1/1,000 individuals/year among those with sufficient 25(OH)D, 20.2/1,000 individuals/year among those with insufficiency, and 27.4/1,000 individuals/year among those with deficiency. So, vitamin D deficiency was a significant risk factor for dynapenia in the entire study population.
When the 233 individuals who either had osteoporosis or took vitamin D supplements were removed from the population, not just vitamin D deficiency but also insufficiency were risk factors for dynapenia.
Notably, the threshold of risk of developing dynapenia was higher among those who did not supplement vitamin D. For those who did take a vitamin D supplement, a serum level of 25(OH)D less than 30 nmol/L was a risk factor for the incidence of dynapenia, however, for those who did not take a supplement, the threshold of risk was higher (≤ 50 nmol/L).
“Clinical trials that combine resistance exercises and vitamin D supplementation in individuals with dynapenia and 25(OH)D insufficiency or deficiency should be developed to investigate whether this combined therapy increases muscle strength in individuals aged 50 or older.
In a study appearing in Calcified Tissue International, 3,205 participants were sampled from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) over the age of 50 who were observed for four years, and all participants either had osteoporosis or serum 25(OH)D deficiency at baseline.
None of the participants had dynapenia at the beginning of the study, and dynapenia was measured using a grip strength test at the end of the four-year study period.
30% of the study participants had a vitamin D deficiency at baseline, defined as less than 30 nmol/L, while 22% of study participants were insufficient, which is defined as a serum 25(OH)D concentration of less than 50 nmol/L.
At the end of the study, the incidence density of dynapenia was 13.1/1,000 individuals/year among those with sufficient 25(OH)D, 20.2/1,000 individuals/year among those with insufficiency, and 27.4/1,000 individuals/year among those with deficiency. So, vitamin D deficiency was a significant risk factor for dynapenia in the entire study population.
When the 233 individuals who either had osteoporosis or took vitamin D supplements were removed from the population, not just vitamin D deficiency but also insufficiency were risk factors for dynapenia.
Notably, the threshold of risk of developing dynapenia was higher among those who did not supplement vitamin D. For those who did take a vitamin D supplement, a serum level of 25(OH)D less than 30 nmol/L was a risk factor for the incidence of dynapenia, however, for those who did not take a supplement, the threshold of risk was higher (≤ 50 nmol/L).
“Clinical trials that combine resistance exercises and vitamin D supplementation in individuals with dynapenia and 25(OH)D insufficiency or deficiency should be developed to investigate whether this combined therapy increases muscle strength in individuals aged 50 or older.
