Can vitamin D deficiency influence muscle performance in postmenopausal women? A multicenter retrospective study

Abstract

This study reported the frequency of hypovitaminosis D in postmenopausal women and its influence on the reduction of muscle mass, strength, and physical performance in a typical population referring to the physiatrist for musculoskeletal disorders.

Do the effects of vitamin D supplementation on muscle strength differ according to age

“…In another study, vitamin D was positively associated with isometric flexion and extension average torque at the knee and isokinetic flexion strength at 60°·s −1 and 180°·s −1 ; there was no correlation between vitamin D and knee isokinetic extension strength at 60°·s -1 and 180°·s −1 (12). Previous studies have suggested that vitamin D affected isometric muscle strength (7)(8)(9)(10)(11) and isokinetic muscle strength (7,12,13), but other reports have proposed no effect (12,(14)(15)(16)(17). In this study, improvement was observed in the knee flexor as well as extensor torque and power at 60°·s −1 and 180°·s −1 in all assessed age groups, and the between-group effect sizes for flexion power at 60°·s −1 and extension power at 180°·s −1 after vitamin D supplementation suggested that vitamin D was more effective for muscle power in younger age groups than in older ones.…”

“…Although it has been reported that there was no significant effect of vitamin D on muscle power (2,11,14), Bischoof et al (20) stated that there was a significant, positive correlation between muscle power and 25(OH)D only in male participants between 65 and 95 years of age. In another study, vitamin D was positively associated with isometric flexion and extension average torque at the knee and isokinetic flexion strength at 60°·s −1 and 180°·s −1 ; there was no correlation between vitamin D and knee isokinetic extension strength at 60°·s -1 and 180°·s −1 (12).…”

“…In addition, various cut-off levels were defined for serum vitamin 25(OH)D levels in studies investigating the relation between the physical performance of lower extremities. In some studies, physical performance was reportedly lower at vitamin 25(OH)D levels <10ng/mL (6), while other studies proposed different levels such as <32 ng/mL (20) and <30ng/mL (11,13). In a study on individuals older than 60 years of age (51 women, 75% physically active), lower extremity performances were suggested to be worse when serum 25(OH)D concentrations were between 9 and 16ng/mL (5).…”

“…Conflicting results have been reported regarding the relation between vitamin D and grip strength, with some studies proposing the presence of such a relation (6,7,11) while others proposing the lack of a relation (12). A study reported that women with serum vitamin D levels <30ng/mL had lower grip strength (11), while another study reported that grip strength was lower when serum vitamin D levels were <20ng/mL in both sexes (6). In addition, various cut-off levels were defined for serum vitamin 25(OH)D levels in studies investigating the relation between the physical performance of lower extremities.…”

“…Some studies suggest that vitamin D improves isometric (7)(8)(9)(10)(11) or isokinetic muscle strength (7,12,13), while other studies suggest that it has no effect on isometric (12,(14)(15)(16) and isokinetic muscle strength (17). However, no study has yet investigated the differences in isometric or isokinetic strength gain on vitamin D supplementation in different age groups of women.…”