Physical performance of black senior women not improved with 30 ng of Vitamin D – RCT Nov 2018

Physical Performance and Vitamin D in Elderly Black Women – The PODA Randomized Clinical Trial

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2018-01418
John Aloia, MD Mageda Mikhail, MD Melissa Fazzari, PhD Shahidul Islam, MPH, PStat® Lou Ragolia, PhD Jack Guralnik, MD, PhD

VitaminDWiki

Note: This study increased the vitamin D levels by about 10 ng

13 reasons why many seniors need more vitamin D (both dose and level) - July 2023 has the following

  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
       Seniors category has 427 items


Context: There is limited information on the influence of vitamin D on physical performance in black Americans.

Objective: To determine if maintenance of serum 25(OH)D above 75 nmol/L prevents the decline in physical performance.

Design: The PODA trial had a prospective, randomized, placebo controlled, double-dummy design with two arms: one with placebo vitamin D3 adjusted to maintain serum 25(OH)D above 75 nmol/L.

Patients: The target population was healthy elderly black women with serum 25(OH)D between 20 and 65 nmol/L. The trial was 3 years in duration with measurement of physical performance every 6-months:

  • Grip strength,
  • Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB),
  • 10 chair rises and 6-minute walk distance.

260 women entered the study and 184 completed 3 years. Mean age was 68.2 years.
Baseline 25(OH)D was 53 nmol/L and total SPPB was 11 (10-12).

Setting: Research Center in an Academic Health Center.

Main Outcomes Measure: Prevention of decline in physical performance measures.

Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned to placebo or active vitamin D. Vitamin D3 dose was adjusted to maintain serum 25(OH)D above 75 nmol/l.

Results: There was a decline with time in grip strength and the 6-minute walk. The SPBB increased with time. There were no significant differences between the placebo and active vitamin D3 groups with respect to the temporal patterns observed for any of the performance measures.

Conclusions: There is no benefit of maintaining serum 25(OH)D above 75 nmol/L in preventing the decline in physical performance in healthy black American women.

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