Nutritional Advice El MondoObjectives:
In postmenopausal women, vitamin D deficiency (as defined by the circulating level of 25(OH)D being below 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L)) is a regular occurrence. The effect of vitamin D supplementation on the muscle function of postmenopausal women has been controversial. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.
Does vitamin D supplementation enhance the muscular strength and mobility of postmenopausal women?
Study design:
This review article included 19 RCTs between 2003 and 2021, with 5,398 participants.
The sample size of the RCTs included in multiple countries ranges from 20 to 2,347. Furthermore, the duration of vitamin D supplementation ranged from 3 to 60 months.
Vitamin D3 was applied in 12 of the 19 retrieved trials, whose dosages ranged from 400 IU/day to 300,000 IU (10 tot 7500 mcg vitamin D3) in a single oral dose.
Visual inspection of the funnel plot and Egger’s linear regression test revealed no indication of publication bias in the meta-analysis of vitamin D supplementation on handgrip strength.
Results and conclusions:
The investigators found meta-analysis of 9 RCTs (1,997 participants supplemented with vitamin D and 2,232 participants as the control group (vitamin D in low dosage or placebo)), showed that vitamin D supplementation significantly improved handgrip strength in postmenopausal women [WMD = 0.876 kg, 95% CI = 0.180 to 1.571, p = 0.014, I2 = 68.5%, p = 0.001].
Moreover, according to subgroup analysis, vitamin D supplementation substantially raised handgrip strength when compared to baseline blood vitamin D levels >75 nmol/L (30 ng/ml) [WMD = 0.478 kg, 95% CI = 0.963 to 1.918, p = 0.003], without calcium [WMD = 1.931 kg, 95% CI = 0.166 to 3.697, p = 0.032] and subject to an age of more than 60 [WMD = 1.116 kg, 95% CI = 0.433 to 1.799, p = 0.001].
The investigators concluded that 400 IU/day to 300,000 IU vitamin D supplementation during 3 to 60 months improves handgrip strength in postmenopausal women over 60 years of age who are without calcium supplementation or whose baseline vitamin D is >75 nmol/L (30 ng/mL). These findings show that future trials should focus on determining the ideal dosage and duration and taking into account the several factors that may impair muscle performance, such as exercise, calcium consumption, frailty, a history of falls or fractures and baseline vitamin D status and the relationship between muscle function and/or strength with muscle composition.
Original title:
Vitamin D Supplementation Improves Handgrip Strength in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials by Zhang JL, Poon CCW, […], Zhang Y.
Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9199366/
Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on vitamin D and elderly right here.