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Meta-Analysis
. 2017 Feb;30(1):3-15.
doi: 10.1111/jhn.12394. Epub 2016 Jul 27.

Vitamin D supplementation and its influence on muscle strength and mobility in community-dwelling older persons: a systematic review and meta-analysis

H Rosendahl-Riise  1 , U Spielau  2   3 , A H Ranhoff  1   4 , O A Gudbrandsen  3 , J Dierkes  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Vitamin D supplementation and its influence on muscle strength and mobility in community-dwelling older persons: a systematic review and meta-analysis

H Rosendahl-Riise et al. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2017 Feb.

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: It has been suggested that vitamin D status or supplementation is important for maintaining or improving muscle strength and mobility in older adults. The study results, however, do not provide consistent results. We therefore aimed to summarise the available evidence systematically, including only studies conducted in community-dwelling older persons.

Methods: A systematic search of the literature was performed in April of 2016. The systematic review includes studies that used vitamin D with or without calcium supplementation as the exposure variable and various measurements of muscle strength and mobility. The meta-analysis was limited to studies using hand grip strength (HGS) and timed-up-and-go test as the outcome variables.

Results: A total of 15 studies out of 2408 articles from the literature search were included in the systematic review, providing 2866 participants above the age of 65 years. In the majority of studies, no improvement in muscle strength and mobility was observed after administration of vitamin D with or without calcium supplements. In the meta-analysis, we observed a nonsignificant change in HGS [+0.2 kg (95% confidence interval = -0.25 to 0.7 kg; seven studies)] and a small, significant increase in the timed-up-and-go test [0.3 s (95% confidence interval = 0.1 to 0.5 s; five studies)] after vitamin D supplementation. The meta-analyses showed a high degree of heterogeneity between the studies.

Conclusions: In conclusion, we observed no improvement in muscle strength after the administration of vitamin D with or without calcium supplements. We did find a small but significant deterioration of mobility. However, this is based on a limited number of studies and participants.

Keywords: ageing; gait; hand strength; muscle strength; vitamin D.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of the selection of studies on the effect of vitamin D supplementation with or without calcium supplements on muscle strength and mobility in the present systematic review and meta‐analysis. RCT, randomised controlled trial.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Results of the meta‐analysis of the effect of vitamin D supplementation with or without calcium on hand grip strength (kg) (n = 7 studies). The results were obtained using a random effects model. One study reported results for men and women separately (Lagari a – men and Lagari b – women). For one study, we have divided the comparator group in two (Wood‐a and Wood‐b). CI, confidence interval.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Results of the meta‐analysis of the effect of vitamin D supplementation with or without calcium on timed‐up‐and‐go (TUG) (n = 5 studies). The results were obtained using a random effects model. CI, confidence interval.
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