Vitamin D and muscle function.
Muscle weakness is a hallmark of severe vitamin D deficiency, but the effect of milder vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency on muscle mass and performance and risk of falling is uncertain. In this presentation, I review the evidence that vitamin D influences muscle mass and performance, balance, and risk of falling in older adults. Special consideration is given to the impact of both the starting 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level and the dose administered on the clinical response to supplemental vitamin D in older men and women. Based on available evidence, older adults with serum 25(OH)D levels <40nmol/L appear most likely to improve their muscle performance with supplementation. The vitamin D dose range of 800-1000 IU per day has been effective in many studies; lower doses have generally been ineffective and several doses above this range have increased the risk of falls. In conclusion, older adults with serum 25(OH)D levels <40nmol/L are likely to have fewer falls if supplemented with 800-1000 IU per day of vitamin D.
Bone Metabolism Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 711 Washington St, Boston, MA 02108, USA. Electronic address: Bess.dawson-hughes@tufts.edu.
Bess
B
Dawson-Hughes
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
Falls; Muscle mass; Muscle performance; Vitamin D