Vitamin D and Health

Table 26: RCTs (not included in above meta-analyses) on effect of vitamin D supplementation on muscle strength and function in adults ≥ 50y
Study/
Country
Study population
Intervention/study
design
Mean baseline
25(OH)D (nmol/L)
Post intervention
25(OH)D (nmol/L)
Outcome Results Comments
Lips et al
(2010)
North
America &
Europe
Men & women
(n=226) with serum
25(OH)D ≤50 and
15 nmol/l
Mean age: 78y
1. 210 µg/wk D3
2. Placebo
Duration: 16 weeks
Double-blind
1. 34.2 ± 11.0
2. 35.2 ± 13.7
1. 65.4
2. Unchanged.
Mean difference
between groups of
32.4.
Primary - mediolateral
body sway
Secondary - short
physical performance
battery (SPPB)
Mediolateral sway – no change
from baseline in either group. No
significant treatment differences
on basis of baseline 25(OH)D
concentration (≤ 37 or > 37
nmol/L)
SPPB – no significant difference in
change in SPPB scores between
intervention and placebo group
In the post hoc
subgroup analysis,
mediolateral sway
was reduced in
vitamin D
supplemented
patients with
elevated sway at
baseline (≥ 0.46 cm)
(p=0.047).
Pirotta et
al (2014)
Australia
Men and women
(n=26) with serum
25(OH)D
concentration 25-60
nmol/L
Mean age:
Women – 66.1±4.0 y
Men – 71.5±5.7 y
1. 50µg/d D3
2. Placebo
Duration: 10 weeks
Double blind
1. 46.4 ± 11.4
2. 48.5 ± 11.1
1. 81
2. No change
Primary – corticospinal
excitability, intracortical
inhibition
Secondary – muscle
strength (knee
extension) & muscle
power (stair climbing,
four square step test,
timed-up-and-go test)
Significant 8-11% increase in
muscle strength in vitamin D
group (p < 0.05) but changes not
significantly different from the
placebo group.
No effect of vitamin D on muscle
power.
Very small study.
Knutsen et
al (2014)
Norway
Adults (n=251) living
in Oslo but born (or
parents born) in
Middle East, Africa,
South Asia
Age: 18-50 years
1. 10 µg/d D3
2. 25 µg/d D3
3. Placebo
Duration: 16 weeks
Double-blind.
1. 27 (15)
2. 27 (16)
3. 27 (15)
1. 43 (17)
2. 52 (20)
3. 25 (12)
Primary - Jump height
Secondary - chair rising
test, handgrip strength.
Mean difference (95% CI)
compared with placebo
Jump height
1. -2.4 (-7.2, 2.4); p=0.24
2. -0.4 (-5.1, 4.4); p=0.85
Handgrip strength
1. -2.57 (-7.00, 1.86); p=0.25
2. 0.21 (-4.42, 4.85); p=0.93
Chair test
1. -0.53 (-4.09, 3.04); p=0.77
2. 0.02 (-3.97, 4.00); p=0.99
There was no
significant
improvement in tests
of muscle strength in
vitamin D
supplemented
groups compared to
placebo group.
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