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Hypovitaminosis D is associated with a reduction in upper and lower limb muscle strength and physical performance in post-menopausal women: a retrospective study

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Abstract

Background

Elderly people experience a gradual loss of muscle strength and a reduction of serum levels of vitamin D and of vitamin D receptor expression in skeletal muscle cells.

Aims

The aim of our study was to evaluate the association among serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D3], muscle strength, and physical performance in post-menopausal women.

Methods

In our retrospective case–control study, we analyzed data from medical records of post-menopausal women aged ≥50 years. We compared subjects with hypovitaminosis D [25(OH)D3 <30 ng/ml] vs. those with normal levels [25(OH)D3 ≥30 ng/ml]. Outcome measures were: Hand Grip Strength Test (HGS) and Knee Extension Strength Test (KES) to evaluate upper and lower limb muscle strength, respectively; Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and usual 4-m gait speed (4MGS) to evaluate physical performance.

Results

We examined 80 patients (mean aged 65.92 ± 7.69 years): forty-six subjects with hypovitaminosis D (mean aged 66.09 ± 7.71 years) and 34 with normal levels of vitamin D (mean aged 65.71 ± 7.78 years). There was a statistically significant difference between hypovitaminosis D group and subjects with normal levels of vitamin D in HGS (12.13 ± 4.34 vs. 19.14 ± 5.59; p < 0.001), KES (11.99 ± 4.04 vs. 16.98 ± 8.43; p = 0.003), SPPB score [8 (5.75-10.25) vs. 12 (10-12); p < 0.001], and proportion of patients with usual 4MGS ≤ 0.8 m/s [29 (63.0 %) vs. 9 (26.5 %); p = 0.002].

Discussion

In literature, there is no agreement on the association among serum vitamin D levels and muscle function. Our data showed that post-menopausal women with hypovitaminosis D had worse upper and lower limb muscle strength and physical performance than subjects with normal levels of 25(OH)D3.

Conclusions

Our results support the hypothesis that there is a significant positive association among serum 25(OH)D3 levels and upper and lower limb muscle functioning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties and Dentistry, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Giovanni Iolascon, Alessandro de Sire, Dario Calafiore, Antimo Moretti & Raffaele Gimigliano

  2. Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Francesca Gimigliano

Authors
  1. Giovanni Iolascon
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  2. Alessandro de Sire
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  3. Dario Calafiore
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  4. Antimo Moretti
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  5. Raffaele Gimigliano
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  6. Francesca Gimigliano
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Correspondence to Giovanni Iolascon.

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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest. No funding was received in support of this study.

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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.

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Iolascon, G., de Sire, A., Calafiore, D. et al. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with a reduction in upper and lower limb muscle strength and physical performance in post-menopausal women: a retrospective study. Aging Clin Exp Res 27 (Suppl 1), 23–30 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-015-0405-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-015-0405-5

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