The lack of vitamin D can affect the mobility in old age; competence

The lack of vitamin D can affect the mobility in old age; competence


The research underlines that low levels of the substance increase the risk of slowness in the elderly, influencing their independence and quality of life

Deficiency of Vitamin D. It can be considered a warning for low mobility old age. A study conducted by researchers at the Federal University of São Carlos (Ufscar) in collaboration with the University College in London, United Kingdom, revealed that people elderly With the lack of vitamin D, they had a higher risk of slow walking. The results have been published in the magazine Diabetes, obesity and metabolism.

The slow march in the elderly – less than 0.8 meters per second (m/s) – is an important indicator of mobility and is associated with the loss of independence and the greater risk of falls, hospitalization, institutionalization and death.

“With this, vitamin D becomes an important indicator to previously identify the risk of walking slowly and acts as old age with possible difficulties of mobility,” says Tiago da Silva Alexandre, professor at the Department of Gerontology of the Ufscar and author of the study, which was financed by Fapesp. “Since the slowness of walking is associated with the highest risk of functional dependence and adverse results, the monitoring of vitamin D levels, especially in elderly people, should be priority in various clinical contexts and health services,” says Alexandre.

The researchers analyzed the data of 2,815 people in the age of or over 60 years. Participants are part of the Longitudinal study in English English (Elsa), longitudinal health study of England. At work, only people who had no problems related to the March speed were initially selected.

The levels of vitamin D in the blood were evaluated at the beginning of the study and the speed of the pace was re -evaluated for six years, which allowed to correlate the reduction of the March speed due to the condition of sufficiency, insufficiency or deficiency of vitamin D.

The data showed a greater number of cases of slow participants who had a deficiency of vitamin D: less than 30 nmol/L has increased the risk of slowness compared to sufficiency, or more than 50 nmol/l. (Nanomoli per liter (Nmol/L) is a unit of measurement used to express the concentration of a substance in a volume of liquid.) No association was detected between vitamin D insufficiency (between 30 and 50 nmol/l) and slowness.

The researchers point out that slow walking has a multifactorial cause and vitamin D deficiency for a six -year period would be one of these. “Vitamin D plays an important role in the musculoskeletal system, because, when synthesized by sunlight, it acts on the muscle cells that regulate the entry and exit of calcium, which allow muscle contraction, for example. Therefore, when there is a deficiency of vitamin D, this flow is compromised,” says Mariana Marques Luiz, a ufscar professor who conducted research during his doctor.

The researcher also underlines that the lack of vitamin D also triggers the reduction of the synthesis of muscle protein – a common problem with aging -A is, it makes muscle formation even more difficult in the elderly. In addition, it has neurological effects, interfering with the protective effect to neurons and the speed of the transmission of nerve impulses. “In addition to the muscle issue, the lack of vitamin D has repercussions on the central and peripheral nervous system, compromising the march through the slowness in the transmission of neuronal stimuli to walk,” he says.

Vitamin D in old age

The results of the study have shown that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for slow walking, regardless of other problems such as age, gender, race, education, level of physical activity, the smoothness, diabetes and other diseases.

“As a very important indicator, monitoring should be considered to maintain healthy aging. But it is necessary to pay attention, because the slowness of the pace is a multifactorial problem and it is known that the excessive integration of toxicity vitamin D”, puts Alexandre.

Vitamin D has won the spotlight in recent years due to different beneficial health effects. Recent studies indicate their role in improving the immune, cardiorespiratory, neurological and above all musculoskeletal system. He was also at the center of the false news on the alleged miraculous treatments.

“It is not that vitamin D serves for everything, it is important in various organs and systems of the body. Virtually all body cells have vitamin D receptors. When the skin is exposed to the sun, a substance present in the deeper layers is activated by the action of lives. Receptors.

In old age there is a natural reduction of vitamin circulating in the blood. “As you age, there is a reduction in the bioavailability of the precursor substance of vitamin D, which occurs through the aging of the skin. There is also a decrease in the number of vitamin D receptors in the cells of different tissues, which reduces the ability of skin capacity and the distribution of vitamin D of vitamin D vitamin D. reduce the physiological reserves of these systems, By triggering various problems, including loss of mobility, “says the researcher.

Source: Terra

You may also like