title: Serum vitamin D and functional impairment in octogenarian women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serum vitamin D deficiency has been associated with frailty in people aged 65 and over, however its relationship with functional impairment has not been investigated in octogenerian (aged 80-90 years) institutionalized women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed functional impairment in this latter group by measuring frailty syndrome and other geriatric and psychological assessment scales: the Tinetti gait and balance index to determine the risk for falls, the Barthel index to measure the basic activities of daily living, the Lawton index for instrumental activities, the mini-mental score examination test for cognitive impairment, the Yesavage scale for geriatric depression, and the Norton scale for the risk of ulceration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frail individuals had significantly reduced serum vitamin D concentrations (measured as total 25-hydroxyvitamin D; 25(OH)D) compared to robust individuals, but reduced 25(OH)D concentration did not significantly correlate with frailty syndrome severity, and mean 25(OH)D concentrations were within the recommended levels in all groups. The 25(OH)D concentration did not correlate with any of the blood analytical parameters measured and with the geriatric assessment scales used, suggesting a selective relationship with frailty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results highlight the need to individualize treatment such as vitamin D supplementation in order to treat frailty syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Rut
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Navarro-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández-Garrido
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buigues
authors.affiliation: Centro municipal para personas mayores "Arniches", 46014 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinez-Martinez
authors.affiliation: Centro municipal para personas mayores "Arniches", 46014 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cantero-Díaz
authors.affiliation: Centro municipal para personas mayores "Arniches", 46014 Valencia, Spain; GeroResidencias La Saleta, 46015 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Santamaría-Carrillo
authors.affiliation: Centro municipal para personas mayores "Arniches", 46014 Valencia, Spain; GeroResidencias La Saleta, 46015 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Serra-Catalá
authors.affiliation: GeroResidencias La Saleta, 46015 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peris
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: Omar.Cauli@uv.es.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cauli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Ageing; Calcium; Frailty; Metabolism; Nutrition; Vitamin D