title: Short-term Administration of Alphacalcidol is Associated with More Significant Improvement of Muscular Performance in Women with Vitamin D Deficiency Compared to Native Vitamin D.
abstract: Introduction:Positive relationships between muscle function and vitamin D (VD) status, defined by serum 25-hydroxy VD (25OHD) levels have been reported and muscle strength is generally improved with VD supplementation in deficient individuals. The effects of active VD analogs have been less studied.Aim:We aim to investigate the effect of short-term treatment with native VD (cholecalciferol) or alphacalcidol on the muscular function and physical performance in women with vitamin D deficiency.Material and methods:We analysed 178 women with VD deficiency, defined as serum 25-hydroxyVD-25OHD concentration below 30 ng/ml. We recorded the grip-strength and the results of the chair-rise test (CRT) and timed-up-and-go test (TUG). We randomised the patients to receive cholecalciferol 1 000 IU daily or alphacalcidol 1 μg daily, for 6 months.Results:The mean baseline 25OHD concentration was 14.47±6.57 ng/ml. After treatment the serum 25OHD level rose to 20.85±8.88 ng/ml, significantly higher in cases supplemented with cholecalciferol (22.7±8.32 ng/ml) compared to those treated with alphacalcidol (13.5±7.29 ng/ml, p=0.000). After treatment, significant improvements of TUG and CRT test results (- 6.48 and-5.05% compared to baseline, respectively, p=0.000) and gripstrength (7.85% compared to baseline, p=0.000) occurred. The benefit was more significant in cases treated with alphacalcidol for gripstrength (p=0.001), TUG (p=0.002), CRT (p=0.033). After treatment, the gripstrength increased significantly more in patients with severe baseline VD deficiency.Conclusions:VD status improvement is associated with an increase in muscular performance in women with VD deficiency. Alphacalcidol exerts significantly better effects compared to cholecalciferol, and this can not be explained by a larger increase in serum 25OHD concentration.
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Capatina
authors.affiliation: "C.I.Parhon" National Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caragheorgheopol
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berteanu
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poiana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D006887:Hydroxycholecalciferols; C008088:alfacalcidol