Frailty 9X more likely if low vitamin D – Nov 2015

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Association of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with the frailty syndrome in Mexican community-dwelling elderly.

Aging Male. 2015 Nov 10:1-6. [Epub ahead of print]
Gutiérrez-Robledo LM 1, Ávila-Funes JA 2,3, Amieva H 3, Meillon C3, Acosta JL 4,5, Navarrete-Reyes AP 2, Torres-Carrillo N 6, Muñoz-Valle JF 6, Torres-Carrillo NM1, 6.

OBJECTIVE:
Since vitamin D is an important regulator of muscle function, the effect of vitamin D deficiency on frailty syndrome has been recently studied. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the association between 25(OH)-vitamin D levels and frailty status in Mexican community-dwelling elderly.

METHODS:
Sample of 331 community-dwelling elderly aged 70 or older, a subset of those included in the "Coyoacán cohort" were included. 25(OH)-vitamin D assay and frailty status were measured.

RESULTS:
Mean age was 79.3 years and 54.1% were women. Those classified as frail were more likely to have

• lower Mini-Mental State Examination score (p = 0.015),
• more disability for instrumental activities of daily living (p < 0.001)
• and for activities of daily living (p < 0.001).

Serum 25(OH)-vitamin D levels were lower in the frail subgroup when compared with the non-frail one (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed a significant association between intermediate tertile [odds ratios (OR) = 4.13; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.00-8.56] or insufficient tertile (OR = 8.95; 95% CI 2.41-33.30) of vitamin D levels and frailty even after adjusting for potential confounders.

CONCLUSION:
These results suggest that older adults with low 25(OH)-vitamin D levels are associated with the probability to being frail compared with those with sufficient vitamin D levels.

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See also VitaminDWik

• Frailty and Vitamin D - many studies
• Overview Seniors and Vitamin D
• Overview Fractures and Falls and Vitamin D
• Seniors 2.2 X more likely to walk slowly if very low vitamin D – meta-analysis Dec 2017
• Vertigo treated by Vitamin D - many studies
• Slow walking speed of youths 14 times more likely if low vitamin D - Dec 2016
• 80 percent of the characteristics of frailty associated with low vitamin D – May 2013
• Vitamin D improves muscle strength, reduces falling, and reduces frailty – review March 2015
• Frailty Call to Action: Vitamin D is one of the action items – June 2013
• Frailty and low muscle mass both associated with low vitamin D – Aug 2013

VitaminDWiki - 10 reasons why seniors have low levels of vitamin D

1. Senior skin produces 4X less Vitamin D for the same sun intensity
2. Seniors have fewer vitamin D receptor genes as they age
   Receptors are needed to get Vitamin D in blood actually into the cells
3. Many other Vitamin D genes decrease with age
4. Since many gene activations are not detected by a blood test,
   more Vitamin D is often needed, especially by seniors
5. Seniors are indoors more than when they were younger
   not as agile, weaker muscles; frail, no longer enjoy hot temperatures
6. Seniors wear more clothing outdoors than when younger
   Seniors also are told to fear skin cancer & wrinkles
7. Seniors often take various drugs which end up reducing vitamin D
   Some reductions are not detected by a vitamin D test of the blood
   statins, chemotherapy, anti-depressants, blood pressure, beta-blockers, etc
8. Seniors often have one or more diseases that consume vitamin D
   osteoporosis, diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, ...
9. Seniors generally put on weight as they age - and a heavier body requires more vitamin D
10. Seniors often (40%) have fatty livers – which do not process vitamin D as well
11. Reduced stomach acid means less Magnesium is available to get vitamin D into the cells
12. Vitamin D is not as bioavailable in senior intestines
13. Seniors with poorly functioning kidneys do not process vitamin D as well
14. Glutathione (which increases Vitamin D getting to cells) decreases with age
       Seniors category has 431 items

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