Vitamin D Supplementation Is Associated with a Reduction in Self-Reported Falls among Older Adults with Previous Fall History – Feasibility Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
S.D. Anton ◽  
R.T. Mankowski ◽  
P. Qiu ◽  
L. You ◽  
B.A. Bensadon ◽  
...  

Background: Vitamin D insufficiency contributes to muscle weakness and a higher risk of falls in older adults. Objectives: This study explored the impact of vitamin D supplementation on self-reported falls and physical function in older adults with low vitamin D levels and a recent fall history. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five older adults ≥ 70 years with two or more falls during the past year, low vitamin D blood levels (≥10 ng/ml and < 30 ng/mL), and slow gait speed (1.2 m/s) participated in a 6-month vitamin D supplementation (800 IU/day) study. A modified version of the Morse Fall Scale questionnaire was used to assess frequency of falls over one-year prior to study enrollment. Functional outcomes (short physical performance battery, handgrip strength, gait Timed Up and Go, and six-minute walk), and vitamin D levels were assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Results: Based on diaries and pill counts, participants were generally adherent to the intervention (6 of 7 days per week). Supplementation with 800 IU/day of vitamin D for 6 months increased blood vitamin D levels from 23.25±4.8 ng/ml to 29.13±6.9 ng/ml (p<0.001). Self-reported number of falls decreased from an average of 3.76 ± 2.2 falls in one-year to 0.76 ± 1.4 falls (p <0.0001) over the 6-month intervention. No changes in functional outcome measures were observed. Conclusions: Vitamin D supplementation at the currently recommended dose of 800 IU/day increased blood vitamin D levels and reduced frequency of falls in older adults with low vitamin D levels and a recent fall history.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 303-309
Author(s):  
Mostafa Hassan Ragab ◽  
Eman Monir Sherif ◽  
Nadia Badawy Abd- El Gawad ◽  
Safaa Mohamed Elserougy ◽  
Eman Essam Shaban ◽  
...  

Diabetes is one of the commonest chronic diseases worldwide. Vitamin D deficiency showed to be increasing, and have a potential role in autoimmune diseases among which in type 1 diabetes. The aim The aim of the study was to assess the impact of oral vitamin D supplementation on blood glucose (HbA1C) in T1DM patients and to find out the role of vitamin D as a biomarker for follow of T1DM patients compared to HbA1C. Subjects and methods: A randomized interventional clinical study was designed. The study enrolled 60 children patients with T1DM. Only 45 children continued to the end of study. Initial (pre-intake) assessment included history taking, clinical examination, and measurement of serum 25-OH vitamin D3 and serum HbA1C. These children received oral vitamin D supplements for 3 months then post-intake assessment were done again. Results: The study showed that serum vitamin D was deficient among Egyptian children and adolescents with T1DM (mean 11.4±3.4 ng/ml). , 53.33% of the patients had vitamin D deficiency with a 35.6% had insufficiency and 11.11% were VD sufficient. Patients received oral vitamin D supplementation for 3 months after which marked improvement in the levels of serum vitamin D levels and HA1C, 87.5% and 86.5% respectively.


Author(s):  
Devi Dayal

<p>Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is presumed to play a role in several infective and non-infective conditions such as acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis, diabetes, hypertension, stroke etc. Most of the respiratory viral infections occur during winter season when the vitamin D levels in most individuals are generally low. The current pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which began during winter season similar to the previous epidemics due to coronaviruses, has again stirred a debate on the role of VDD in the initiation and spread of the pandemic. The data on vitamin D status in patients with COVID-19 is however lacking. Different vitamin D supplementation strategies have recently been suggested as part of several countermeasures aimed at reducing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. This brief narrative review discusses the evidence for the link between VDD and COVID-19 and the approaches suggested for vitamin D supplementation.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 22-39
Author(s):  
Ray Marks

Background Falls injuries continue to contribute to numerous premature deaths as well as high disability levels, and excess morbidity rates among older adults, worldwide. But can vitamin D account for excess falls injuries among older adults? This review specifically focuses on what is known about vitamin D in the context of postural stability or balance control, both fairly consistent independent predictors of falls among older adults. Methods and Procedures Drawn largely from a review of current relevant English language peer reviewed research publications published over the last 10 years detailing the relationship between vitamin D levels and balance control among the elderly, as this relates to falls injuries, evidence for any emerging consensus on this controversial topic was sought. Used to conduct the search were various key word combinations including: falls injuries and older adults, vitamin D or vitamin D deficiency and balance or postural control. The database used predominantly to provide input into this largely descriptive assessment and narrative overview was PUBMED. Results The prevailing data show falls injuries currently constitute a widespread costly major impediment to successful aging and longevity for many older adults, despite numerous efforts to prevent this disabling set of events over the past two to three decades. However, no consistent association appears to exist between the variables of vitamin D, falls, and balance attributes in the older population-despite years of research, regardless of study approach, and a strong rationale for hypothesizing a clinically meaningful relationship. Conclusion It is not possible to arrive at any universal recommendation concerning the value of vitamin D supplementation as regards its possible influence on balance capacity among older adults in the realm of falls prevention efforts, as has been frequently proposed. However, until more definitive research is conducted, there still appears sufficient justification for considering the screening of vulnerable aging adults for serum vitamin D levels, along with balance impairments, and intervening as required in the case of deficits in either or both of these possible falls determinants.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omowunmi Aibana ◽  
Chuan-Chin Huang ◽  
Said Aboud ◽  
Alberto Arnedo-Pena ◽  
Mercedes C. Becerra ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackgroundFew studies have evaluated the association between pre-existing vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and incident TB. We assessed the impact of baseline vitamin D on TB risk.MethodsWe assessed the association between baseline vitamin D and incident TB in a prospective cohort of 6751 household contacts of TB patients in Peru. We also conducted a one-stage individual participant data meta-analysis searching PubMed and Embase for studies of vitamin D and TB until December 31, 2017. We included studies that assessed vitamin D before TB diagnosis. We defined VDD as 25–(OH)D <50 nmol/L, insufficiency as 50–75 nmol/L and sufficiency as >75nmol/L. We estimated the association between vitamin D and incident TB using conditional logistic regression in the Peru cohort and generalized linear mixed models in the meta-analysis.FindingsIn Peru, baseline VDD was associated with a statistically insignificant increase in incident TB (aOR 1·70, 95% CI 0·84–3·46; p=0·14). We identified seven studies for the meta-analysis and analyzed 3544 participants. Individuals with VDD and very low vitamin D (<25nmol/L) had increased TB risk (aOR 1·48, 95% CI 1·04–210;p=0· 03 and aOR 2 08, 95% CI 0·88–4·92; p trend=002 respectively). Among HIV-positive patients, VDD and very low vitamin D conferred a 2-fold (aOR 2.18, 95% CI 1· 22–3·90; p=0· 01) and 4-fold (aOR 4·28, 95% CI 0·85–21·44; p trend=0·01) increased risk of TB respectively.InterpretationOur findings suggest vitamin D predicts TB risk in a dose-dependent manner and vitamin D supplementation may play a role in TB prevention.FundingNational Institute of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Group (IMPAACT), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Foundation, Ujala Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, NIH - Fogarty International Center Program of International Training Grants in Epidemiology Related to AIDS, NIAID Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College HIV Clinical Trials Unit, NIAID’s Baltimore-Washington-India Clinical Trials Unit, National Commission on Biotechnology, the Higher Education Commission, International Research Support Initiative Program of the Higher Education Commission Government of Pakistan, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the NIH Fogarty International Center.Research in ContextEvidence before this studyNumerous studies have found lower serum vitamin D levels among patients with active TB disease compared to healthy controls. However, research has not clarified whether low vitamin D increases TB risk or whether TB disease leads to decreased vitamin D levels. We conducted PubMed and Medline searches for all studies available through December 31, 2017 on the association between vitamin D status and TB disease. We included the following keywords: “vitamin D,” “vitamin D deficiency,” “hypovitaminosis D,” “25-hydroxyvitamin D,” “1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D,” “vitamin D2,” “vitamin D3,” “ergocalciferol,” “cholecalciferol,” and “tuberculosis.” We found only seven studies had prospectively evaluated the impact of baseline vitamin D levels on risk of progression to TB disease.We report here the results of a case control study nested within a large prospective longitudinal cohort study of household contacts of TB cases and the results of an individual participant data (IPD) metaanalysis of available evidence on the association between vitamin D levels and incident TB disease.Added value of this studyWe demonstrated that low vitamin D levels predicts risk of future progression to TB disease in a dose-dependent manner.Implications of all the available evidenceThese findings suggest the possibility that vitamin D supplementation among individuals at high risk for developing TB disease might play a role in TB prevention efforts.


2016 ◽  
Vol 86 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 169-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stavri Chrysostomou

There is currently insufficient evidence of a beneficial effect to recommend vitamin D supplementation for optimizing glycemic status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Taking into consideration the significant extra-skeletal effect of vitamin D on pancreatic β-cell function and insulin secretion and the large number of scientific evidence supporting the inverse association between vitamin D status and hyperglycemia, this review article aims to examine whether vitamin D supplementation therapies are beneficial to patients with T2DM considering specific factors through randomized controlled trials (RCTs). EBSCOhost and Medline databases were searched from the beginning of 2009 until the end of 2014 for RCTs in patients with T2DM. Parameters, such as baseline vitamin D levels, frequency/dosage of supplementation, length of the study and type of supplementation, were independently assessed, based on their effect on glycemic status. Although all different types of supplementation were safe and effective in the achievement of vitamin D sufficiency in a dose-dependent way, the impact on glycemic status was different. 14 RCTs were included with daily supplementations ranging from 400-11.200 IU/daily, 40.000-50.000 IU/weekly and 100.000-300.000 IU/intramuscularly or once given, for a period from 8 to 24 weeks. Daily supplementation of vitamin D (up to 11.200 IU) showed no effect, whereas combined supplementation, with calcium (≥300 mg), and with vitamin D doses similar to the RDA, showed positive effects. Additionally, high weekly doses of vitamin D (40.000-50.000 IU) were effective on glycemic outcomes but available data are limited.


2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
N.W. BRAY ◽  
T.J. DOHERTY ◽  
M. MONTERO-ODASSO

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is ubiquitous in frailty but the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation to improve outcomes in frail individuals is unclear. It has been postulated that higher than the current recommended doses (800 IU/day) may be needed to achieve a neuromuscular effect in frail individuals. Objectives: 1) determine if 4000 IU per day of vitamin D3 is safe for frail older adults; and 2) establish the efficacy of this dose to improve physical performance outcomes in this population. Design: Open-label, feasibility study. Setting: Community retirement centre. Participants: 40 older adults with frail or pre-frail characteristics. Intervention: 4000 IU of vitamin D3 and 1200 mcg of calcium carbonate daily for four months. Measurements: Physical performance (grip strength, gait speed and short physical performance battery score), cognitive health and vitamin D and iPTH serum levels before and after the intervention. Results: Frail individuals improved short physical performance battery score (1.19, p = 0.005), fast gait speed (4.65, p = 0.066) and vitamin D levels (7.81, p = 0.011). Only frail females made a significant improvement in grip strength (1.92, p = 0.003). Stratifying the sample by baseline vitamin D levels revealed that participants with vitamin D insufficiency (≤ 75 nmol/L) significantly improved short physical performance battery score (1.06, p = 0.04), fast gait speed (6.28, p = 0.004) and vitamin D levels (25.73, p = <0.0001). Pre-frail individuals, as well as those with sufficient vitamin D levels (> 75 nmol/L) made no significant improvement in any outcome. Conclusions: Vitamin D supplementation using 4000 IU/daily is safe and has a modest beneficial effect on physical performance for frail individuals and those with insufficient vitamin D levels. Participants with vitamin D insufficiency (≤ 75 nmol/L) showed greater benefits. Our feasibility study provides results to help calculate effect size for a future RCT.


Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
Davide Ferrari ◽  
Massimo Locatelli ◽  
Martina Faraldi ◽  
Giovanni Lombardi

Background. We investigated the changes in 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25-(OH)D] concentrations values, during the first and the second pandemic waves and the impact of the lockdown periods, with their different approaches to home confinement, among different age groups. Methods. Daily cloud-modified vitamin D UV dose (UVDVC), for the area of interest (Milano, Italy), was obtained. Single-center 25-(OH)D determinations from 40,996 individuals in a 2019 (pre-pandemic), 32,355 individuals from 1 January to 31 August 2020 (containing the first pandemic wave) and 27,684 individuals from 1 June to 30 November 2020 (containing the second wave) were compared to investigate both the effect of the lockdown on vitamin D status and the association between 25-(OH)D and SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Results. No direct association was found between UVDVC, 25-(OH)D status and SARS-CoV-2 infection. The stringent confinement implemented during the first wave lockdown has not had any effect on 25-(OH)D status, although some peculiar time-restricted profile behaviors can be deduced, possibly due to vitamin D supplementation habits and features of those patients who presented to the hospital during the lockdown period. Conclusions. Although our data do not suggest any direct relationship between 25-(OH)D status, sun exposure, and SARS-CoV-2 infection, an indirect protective role cannot be excluded.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Michalska-Kasiczak ◽  
Amirhossein Sahebkar ◽  
Dimitri P Mikhailidis ◽  
Jacek Rysz ◽  
Paul Muntner ◽  
...  

Introduction: Vitamin D (vit D) deficiency may be associated with an increased risk of statin-related muscle complaints, and symptomatic myalgia in statin-treated patients. Hypothesis: The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate whether subjects with statin-induced myalgia have lower serum vit D levels compared with those who are asymptomatic. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus and EMBASE (up to March 2014) to identify studies that investigated the impact of vit D levels in statin-treated subjects with and without myalgia. Two independent reviewers extracted data on study characteristics, methods and outcomes. Results: The electronic search yielded 437 articles, of those 20 were scrutinized in the full text, of which 13 studies were considered unsuitable. The final analysis included 7 studies with 2416 statin-treated patients divided to subgroups of patients with (n = 666 [27.6%]) or without (n = 1750) myalgia. The combination of data from individual observational studies revealed a significantly lower vit D plasma concentration in the statin-induced myalgia compared with the asymptomatic subgroup with weighted mean difference -9.41 ng/mL(95% confidence interval (Cl): -10.17 to -8.64; p < 0.00001) (figure) . Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides evidence that low vit D levels are associated with myalgia in patients on statin therapy. Well-designed, randomized controlled trials are necessary to establish whether vitamin D supplementation reduces risk for statin myalgia in patients with vitamin D deficiency.


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