People over 60 with vitamin D deficiency are twice as likely to have muscle weakness.
Vitamin D is necessary for the proper functioning of the human body. Bone health is strongly linked to vitamin D intake, but so is muscle health. Scientists from Trinity College Dublin show that people over 60, who are deficient, are more likely to suffer from muscle problems. Their results were published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging.
A link between vitamin D and muscle health
The study was carried out using medical data from more than 4,000 people over the age of 60. They particularly concerned their level of vitamin D as well as their bone and muscle health. The researchers found that people who were deficient were twice as likely to suffer from muscle weakness compared to those who were not (40% versus 21%). Their muscular performance is more frequently impaired.
Physical activity to protect yourself
“Our results show that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of muscle weakness in older people, and confirms that physical activity has a protective effect,” adds Maria O’Sullivan, professor at Trinity College Dublin. Data analysis shows that people who exercise moderately but regularly are less likely to suffer from muscle weakness. The researchers assume that vitamin D supplementation could also be beneficial for people who are deficient in avoiding muscle problems. “Future research should focus on vitamin D-deficient adults over the age of 60 to better understand whether addressing the deficiency improves skeletal muscle function,” concludes the study’s lead author, Niamh Aspell.
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