Diabetes, hyperglycemia, depression, poor balance, etc associated with less than 20 ng of vitamin D in seniors
Associations Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Multiple Health Conditions, Physical Performance Measures, Disability, and All-Cause Mortality: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project
Vasant Hirani PhD1,2,*, Robert G. Cumming PhD1,2, Vasi Naganathan PhD1, Fiona Blyth PhD1, David G. Le Couteur PhD1,3, David J. Handelsman PhD4,5, Louise M. Waite PhD1, Markus J. Seibel PhD6,7
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Article first published online: 27 FEB 2014, DOI: 10.1111/jgs.12693
1Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
2School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
3Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
4Department of Andrology, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
5ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
6Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
7Bone Research Program, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Address correspondence to Dr. Vasant Hirani, Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, Hospital Road, Concord, NSW 2139, Australia. vasant.hirani@sydney.edu.au
Objectives
To explore associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and a wide range of health conditions, physical performance measures, disability, and mortality in a large epidemiological study to identify an optimum range for 25(OH)D concentrations.
Design
Cross-sectional study, with additional prospective data on falls and mortality.
Setting
Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project, Sydney, Australia.
Participants
Community-dwelling men aged 70 and older (N = 1,659).
Measurements
Serum 25(OH)D levels, general health status, self-reported diseases, physical performance measures, disability (activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living) and falls.
Results
Fair, poor, and very poor health;
self-reported diabetes mellitus;
hyperglycemia;
depression;
muscle weakness;
poor balance; and
all-cause mortality
were all associated with serum 25(OH)D levels less than 50 nmol/L, even after adjustment for confounding. The findings also suggest that, in older men, for a wide range of health conditions, physical performance measures, disability, falls, and mortality, the optimum range of 25(OH)D is between 50.0 and 74.9 nmol/L, with no additional benefit for 25(OH)D levels of 75.0 nmol/L or greater.
Conclusion
Programs aimed at achieving an optimum range of serum 25(OH)D at levels between 50.0 and 74.9 nmol/L may have overall health benefits and such levels are adequate for older men.
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