title: Independent Association of Vitamin D With Physical Function in People With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.
abstract: To explore the relation between vitamin D and physical function outcomes in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  
  Rehabilitation institute.
  
  
  
  Consecutive patients (N=100; 72 men and 28 women) with chronic SCI admitted to a rehabilitation program.
  
  
  
  Not applicable.
  
  
  
  Functional independence in activities of daily living (ADL) and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) were assessed as measures of physical function.
  
  
  
  Vitamin D deficiency (<20ng/mL) was found in 78 patients: they exhibited a significantly higher body mass index, lower functional independence in ADL, and were engaged in a significantly poorer weekly LTPA. At the linear multiple regression analysis, lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels showed significant independent associations with poorer functional independence in ADL (β=.59; 95% confidence interval, .36-.82; P<.0001) and with poorer LTPA (β=2.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.77-3.94; P=.004), after adjustment for other predictors of physical function outcomes selected by univariate analyses.
  
  
  
  In people with chronic SCI, a low vitamin D level represents an independent predictor of poor physical function.
authors.affiliation: Andrology Unit, Department of Life, Health and Environment Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy; Spinal Unit, San Raffaele Sulmona Institute, Sulmona, Italy. Electronic address: arcangelobarbonetti@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Arcangelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbonetti
authors.affiliation: Andrology Unit, Department of Life, Health and Environment Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sperandio
authors.affiliation: Andrology Unit, Department of Life, Health and Environment Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Micillo
authors.affiliation: Andrology Unit, Department of Life, Health and Environment Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Settimio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
authors.affiliation: Spinal Unit, San Raffaele Sulmona Institute, Sulmona, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pacca
authors.affiliation: Spinal Unit, San Raffaele Sulmona Institute, Sulmona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Felzani
authors.affiliation: Andrology Unit, Department of Life, Health and Environment Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Francavilla
authors.affiliation: Andrology Unit, Department of Life, Health and Environment Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Francavilla
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: Activities of daily living; Paraplegia; Quadriplegia; Rehabilitation