According to a new data analysis from Belgium, a regular and adequate vitamin D supply seems to increase lower limb muscle strength in the elderly.
The meta-analysis included 19 randomized controlled trials – with a total of 4,824 participants (with a mean age of 66 years) – that assessed the potential effect of vitamin D supplementation on grip strength and/or lower limb muscle strength (1). The analysis showed that participants with increased intakes of vitamin D had significantly higher global muscle strength, especially in the lower limbs, when compared to the placebo group.
The researchers commented that these findings support earlier studies suggesting that vitamin D plays an important role in skeletal muscle tissue and that vitamin D deficiency is associated with low muscular stre- ngth and an increase in the risk of falling (2). Various studies have demonstrated a relationship between vitamin D and physical performance (3). Although most of these studies were conducted in female-only pop- ulations, some studies which included both men and women reported similar results.
