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Cut-points for associations between vitamin D status and multiple musculoskeletal outcomes in middle-aged women

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Abstract

Summary

This was the first study examining optimal vitamin D status for musculoskeletal health in middle-aged women. A 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of at least 29 to 33 nmol/L appears required for optimal musculoskeletal health, but the current cut-off of 50 nmol/L may be warranted.

Introduction

This study aimed to determine whether cut-points exist for associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and musculoskeletal health outcomes in middle-aged women, below which greater 25OHD levels are associated with musculoskeletal health benefits and above which no such associations exist.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study of 344 women aged 36–57 years. Cut-points for associations of serum 25OHD with lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) bone mineral density (BMD), lower limb muscle strength (LMS), timed up and go test (TUG), functional reach test (FRT), lateral reach test (LRT), and step test (ST) were explored using locally weighted regression smoothing and nonlinear least-squares estimation, and associations above and below the identified cut-points were estimated using segmented regression.

Results

The prevalence of low 25OHD was 28 % (<50 nmol/L). Significant cut-points (nmol/L) were identified for FN BMD 31 (95 % confidence interval (CI): 18, 43), LS BMD 31 (17, 45), TUG 30 (24, 36), ST 33 (24, 31), FRT 31 (18, 43), and LMS 29 (8, 49) but not LRT (42 (−8, 93). Below these cut-points, there were beneficial associations between higher 25OHD level and each outcome, while above the cut-points, there were no beneficial associations.

Conclusions

In middle-aged women, there are thresholds for associations between serum 25OHD concentrations and bone density and most balance measures, suggesting that 25OHD levels of at least 29 to 33 nmol/L are required for optimal musculoskeletal health in this population. The current cut-off of 50 nmol/L may be higher than needed for some outcomes but appears warranted overall.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    F. Wu, K. Wills, L. L. Laslett, G. Jones & T. Winzenberg

  2. School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    B. Oldenburg

  3. Bone Research Program, ANZAC Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    M. J. Seibel

  4. Faculty of Health, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    T. Winzenberg

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  1. F. Wu
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  2. K. Wills
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Winzenberg.

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Funding

This research was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1003437) and RACGP/Osteoporosis Australia Bone Health Research Grant. TW is supported by NHMRC/PHCRED Career Development Fellowship (grant number APP102859) and GJ by NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship. LL is supported by an Arthritis Foundation Australia – Australian Rheumatology Association (AFA–ARA) Heald Fellowship, funded by the Australian Rheumatology Association and Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, and a NMHRC Early Career Fellowship (Australian Clinical Research Fellowship) (grant number APP1070586). The authors would like to thank all staff and participants involved in this study.

Ethical approval

“All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.”

Informed consent

“Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.”

Conflicts of interest

None.

Additional information

Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) NCT00273260.

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Wu, F., Wills, K., Laslett, L.L. et al. Cut-points for associations between vitamin D status and multiple musculoskeletal outcomes in middle-aged women. Osteoporos Int 28, 505–515 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-016-3754-9

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