According to the researchers, endocrine disorders promote loss of bone mineral density, as well as decreases in muscle mass, strength and function.
FAPESP AGENCY – A Vitamin d plays an important role in regulating the absorption of soccer And phosphorus from the body, as well as maintaining the functioning of the brain and the immune system. And now the researchers of Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) and University College London (United Kingdom) have shown that the substance also reduces the risk of 78%. muscle weakness – condition which in medical jargon is called dysapenia🇧🇷
This weakness can be partially explained by muscle atrophy and is considered a major risk factor for physical disability in the aging🇧🇷 People with dinapenia have a higher incidence of falls, hospitalization, early institutionalization and premature death.
In the study, published in the journal International calcified tissue and musculoskeletal research, researchers analyzed 3,205 Britons over the age of 50 who were followed up for four years as part of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) project. The work was supported by FAPESP.
“Vitamin D is known to participate in several functions in the body. It is actually a hormone and among its various actions are muscle repair and also the release of calcium to contract the muscle (muscle contraction kinetics🇧🇷 Therefore, it was already predicted that vitamin D would cause some muscle changes and that’s exactly what our study showed,” says Tiago da Silva Alexandre, professor in the UFSCar’s Department of Gerontology and research consultant.
The scientist explains that bone and muscle tissues are interconnected not only mechanically and physically, but also biochemically. “Because of this, endocrine disorders, such as vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, promote loss of bone mineral density, as well as decreases in muscle mass, strength and function,” he says.
In the study, researchers selected individuals over the age of 50 who did not have muscle weakness, meaning they had neuromuscular strength greater than or equal to 26 pounds (kg) for men and greater than or equal to 16 kg for women. This measurement is done with a device that measures hand grip strength, which has a good correlation with overall body strength.
By following the participants for four years, the researchers found that those who were vitamin D deficient at the start of the study (blood level below 30 nanomol per liter) had a 70 percent higher risk of developing muscle weakness at the end of the study compared to those who had normal vitamin D levels (blood level above 50 nmol/L).
osteoporosis
“This is already an important result, as it shows that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of muscle weakness by 70%. However, as we know that worldwide there are many cases of people with osteoporosis and those who take a vitamin supplement, we had to check what the weight of the supplementation would be,” says Maicon Luís Bicigo Delinocente, FAPESP fellow and co-author of the study.
To that end, the researchers excluded from the analysis people who had osteoporosis and were taking vitamin D supplements.
“When these individuals were removed from the analyses, it was found that those who had a vitamin D deficiency at the start of the study had a 78% higher risk of developing muscle weakness.blood level between 30 and 50 nmol/L) showed a 77 percent higher risk of developing weakness at the end of four years of follow-up compared to those who had normal vitamin D levels,” says Delinocente.
Alexandre points out that, with the result, it was possible to demonstrate that not only deficiency, but also insufficiency of vitamin D causes the individual to have a higher risk of developing muscle weakness.
“Another reflection of the study results is the importance of vitamin D replacement, when needed. The study was conducted with British people and we know that sun incidence in Brazil is much higher than in the UK, but the fact is that we too have a high incidence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in Brazil and in the world, especially among older individuals,” he says.
Alexandre reiterates that for vitamin D synthesis to take place in the body, it is necessary to sunbathe with exposed areas of the body. “But it is necessary to explain to people that vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency increases the risk of developing muscle loss. Therefore, it is necessary to tell these people that they need more sun exposure, diet with of vitamin D, or take supplements and practice resistance exercises to maintain strength,” he concludes.
The article Are serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and insufficiency risk factors for the incidence of dysapenia? can be read at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00223-022-01021-8.
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Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
