Combination of alfacalcidol with calcium can improve quadriceps muscle strength in elderly ambulatory Thai women who have hypovitaminosis D: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of alfacalcidol and calcium on the improvement of muscle strength in ambulatory elderly Thai women in age group of 65 or more who have hypovitaminosis D.


METHODS
Seventy-two postmenopausal women age 65 years or more were enrolled to this study. Blood was collected from all participants for measured of 25(OH)D3, intact PTH and vitamin D receptor (VDR) genotypes. After blood collection, the quadriceps muscle strength was measured using the isokinetic dynamometer device. There were 42 subjects who satisfy the eligible criteria and agreed to participate in the experimental randomized controlled study. These subjects were randomized into two groups, one received calcium 1500 g/day combined with alfacalcidol 0.5 mg/day. Another group received calcium 1500 g/day with placebo.


RESULTS
After 12 weeks of intervention, 40 subjects had the second muscle strength measurement (2 dropped out). By ANCOVA analysis, there were significant improvement of muscle strength in the group that received alfacalcidol compared to placebo in both 30 degrees/sec (20.28 vs.16.29, p = 0.025) and 60 degrees/sec (20.32 vs. 15.05, p = 0.002) angular velocities.


CONCLUSIONS
Daily doses of 0.5 mg alfacalcidol with calcium effectively improved muscle strength in elderly Thai women who had low level of 25(OH)D3 compared to calcium alone.
Songpatanasilp
Thawee
T
Department of Orthopedics, Phramongkutklao Army Hospital and College of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand. thaweesps@yahoo.com
Chailurkit
La-Or
LO
Nichachotsalid
Akekachai
A
Chantarasorn
Manoj
M
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects*; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000187:drug effects*; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; D010919:Placebos; D002118:Calcium; C008088:alfacalcidol