title: Sarcopenia in post-menopausal women: Is there any role for vitamin D?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, special attention has been given to the role of vitamin D on the pathogenesis and therapy of sarcopenia in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate the role of vitamin D with respect to sarcopenia in postmenopausal women, providing current evidence from both molecular and clinical studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic search to PubMed and Medline databases for publications reporting data on the role of vitamin D in sarcopenia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sarcopenia has a high prevalence in postmenopausal women, leading to mobility restriction, functional impairment, physical disability and fractures. Accumulating evidence from molecular and clinical studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency is associated with sarcopenic status in elderly women independent of body composition, diet and hormonal status. Current data, but not in a uniform way, provide evidence about the beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation on muscle strength, physical performance and prevention of falls and fractures in elderly female populations. It is still unclear if and to what extent treatment modalities, such as dose, mode of administration and duration of supplementation, could influence treatment outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Studies with superior methodological characteristics are needed in order to establish a role for vitamin D on the treatment of sarcopenia in postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anagnostis
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dimopoulou
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karras
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, National and Capodestrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lambrinoudaki
authors.affiliation: Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: dimitrios.goulis@otenet.gr.
authors.forename: Dimitrios G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Goulis
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: BMI; Fracture risk; Obesity; Osteoporosis