A pilot study of vitamin D and balance characteristics in middle-aged, healthy individuals.
OBJECTIVE
To examine what relationship exists between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels and postural competency in the middle-aged, healthy individual.


METHODS
A community convenience sample.


METHODS
Major medical center employees.


METHODS
Thirty-five healthy individuals older than 40 years of age who demonstrated appropriate cognition and physical stability. Specific exclusion criteria included any prior history of hip, knee, or ankle fracture or surgery.


METHODS
Questionnaire regarding exercise and sun exposure, vitamin D blood level, followed by computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) assessment of balance.


METHODS
CDP scores of individuals with normal and subnormal vitamin D levels.


RESULTS
Thirteen male and 22 female subjects had a mean age of 56.0 years (standard deviation, 7.6; range, 42-77). Self-reported, retrospective mean weekly sun exposure was 7.36 hours (standard deviation, 6.4 hours). Twenty-six subjects (76.5%) described themselves as regular exercisers. Mean 25-OHD level for the sample was 21.5 ng/mL (standard deviation, 12.1 ng/mL). When subjects were divided into those with low and high 25-OHD levels, there was no significant difference in composite limits of stability reaction time scores (mean, 0.98 seconds and 0.84 seconds; P = .23), composite maximal velocity scores (4.2 degrees /second and 5.5 degrees /second; P = .08), composite end point excursion (70.3% and 70.1%; P = .95), and directional control composite scores (71.0% and 71.4%; P = .93). The two groups also showed no significant differences in rhythmic weight shifting left and right as well as forward and backward.


CONCLUSIONS
Unlike studies involving elderly subjects, this study of younger, healthy subjects did not demonstrate a relationship between vitamin D and balance.
Southeastern Parkinson's Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, 1201 Broad Rock Blvd, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*
D014807:Vitamin D