Low Vitamin D Common in Elderly and Associated with Physical Function Loss

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Low Vitamin D Common in Elderly and Associated with Physical Function

Loss: Presented at AGS

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By Crystal Phend

CHICAGO, I.L. -- May 8, 2006 -- Vitamin D insufficiency is universally

common in older adults and associated with more physical function loss

over time, researchers said here at the annual meeting of the American

Geriatrics Society (AGS).

" We were horrified, " said the lead author of one study, Daphne E.

Schneider, MD, geriatrics fellow, Cornell University, New York, New

York, in a presentation on May 5th. " The prevalence [Vitamin D

deficiency] in our population was so high that variables such as age,

gender, cognitive status, vitamin supplementation, and even outdoor

exposure and winters spent in sunny climates do not predict vitamin D

adequacy. "

In the study, all 270 eligible patients presenting to a geriatrics

clinic for blood tests over a 6-week period had their blood sampled for

vitamin D levels. Eligibility was based on being older than 65 years,

speaking English and not having a known hypercalcemic disorder.

Overall, 60% of the patients had non-optimal vitamin D levels.

Suboptimal vitamin D was present in 37.5% of patients taking

bisphosphonates and 43% of those taking vitamin D supplementation.

No variable except ethnicity predicted vitamin D status, the researchers

said.

Use of multivitamins, calcium, vitamin D, and bisphosphonates did not

significantly reduce the rate of vitamin D insufficiency (20 to 29

ng/mL) or deficiency (<20 ng/mL), though use of such supplements did

numerically improve vitamin D status rates.

The results support universal screening for older adults, Dr. Schneider

said.

In another prospective, community-based study of older adults, low 25

hydroxy vitamin D levels were associated with impaired physical function.

" Vitamin D predicts muscle decline 2 and a half years later, " said lead

author Thuy-Tien Dam, MD, associate professor of medicine, University of

California, San Diego, California, in a presentation on May 4th.

Of 769 relatively healthy, ambulatory men and women, timed up and go

test (TUG) and timed chair stands (TCS) were significantly lower

compared to baseline for women with vitamin D insufficiency, defined as

less than 70 nmol/L. No vitamin D associations were seen to physical

function loss in men.

Vitamin D levels of at least 101 nmol/L appear to minimize functional

decline in women, Dr. Dam said.

[Presentation titles: Surprising Prevalence of Vitamin D Insufficiency

in an Older Adult Population. Poster D110. A Longitudinal Study of the

Gender Specific Effects of Vitamin D on Physical Function: The Rancho

Bernardo Study. Poster B36]

--

ne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar@... >

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