Physical performance and life quality in postmenopausal women supplemented with vitamin D: a two-year prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on bone turnover marker levels, muscle strength and quality of life in postmenopausal Chinese women.


METHODS
A total of 485 healthy postmenopausal Chinese women (63.44±5.04 years) were enrolled in this open-label, 2-year, prospective, community-based trial. The participants were divided into group A, B, C, which were treated with calcium (600 mg/d) alone, calcium (600 mg/d) and cholecalciferol (800 IU/d) or calcium (600 mg/d) and calcitriol (0.25 μg/d), respectively, for 2 years. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone, β-CTX and P1NP were measured, and the muscle strength and quality of life were assessed at baseline and at 12- and 24-month follow-ups.


RESULTS
Four hundred and sixty one participants completed this study. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were significantly increased in group C, but not changed in groups A and B at 24-month follow-up. Serum levels of parathyroid hormone, bone turnover marker β-CTX and bone formation marker P1NP were significantly decreased in group C, while serum levels of β-CTX were increased in group A at 24-month follow-up. The participants in group C maintained the grip strength, while those in groups A and B exhibited decreased grip strength at 24-month follow-up. The quality of life for the participants in groups B and C remained consistent, but that in group A was deteriorated at 24-month follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation with calcitriol and calcium modifies the bone turnover marker levels, and maintains muscle strength and quality of life in postmenopausal Chinese women, whereas supplementation with cholecalciferol and calcium prevents aging-mediated deterioration in quality of life.
Metabolic Bone Diseases and Genetic Research Unit, Department of Osteoporosis and Bone Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China.
Li-hong
LH
Gao
Metabolic Bone Diseases and Genetic Research Unit, Department of Osteoporosis and Bone Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China.
Wen-jun
WJ
Zhu
Metabolic Bone Diseases and Genetic Research Unit, Department of Osteoporosis and Bone Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China.
Yu-juan
YJ
Liu
Metabolic Bone Diseases and Genetic Research Unit, Department of Osteoporosis and Bone Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China.
Jie-mei
JM
Gu
Metabolic Bone Diseases and Genetic Research Unit, Department of Osteoporosis and Bone Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, China.
Zhen-lin
ZL
Zhang
Department of Endocrinology, Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Ou
O
Wang
Department of Endocrinology, Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Xiao-ping
XP
Xing
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Ling
L
Xu
D000368:Aged; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002681:China; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; D002762:Cholecalciferol; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium