[Effect of vitamin D on muscle strength and relevance in regard to osteoporosis prevention].
A successful prevention strategy for fractures in the elderly should not be limited to an improvement in bone mineral density. Equally important is the prevention of falls. Thus, 90% of fractures in the elderly are associated with a fall and 30% of all ambulatory, and 50% of institutionalized elderly age 65 years and older fall at least once a year. Fall incidence increases 10% per decade thereafter. According to recent studies, vitamin D and calcium supplementation may be a promising treatment strategy targeting both bone mineral density, as well as muscle strength and the risk of falling. The protective effect of vitamin D on fractures has been attributed to the established moderate benefit of vitamin D on bone mineral density. However, an alternative explanation might be that vitamin D affects factors directly related to muscle strength, thus, reducing fracture risk through improved function and fall prevention, in addition to its benefits on calcium homeostasis.
Bischoff-Ferrari
H A
HA
Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, The Robert B. Brigham Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Clinical Research Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA. hbischof@hsph.harvard.edu
Conzelmann
M
M
Dick
W
W
Theiler
R
R
Stähelin
H B
HB
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium