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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Jun;13(3):1642-1652.
doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12976. Epub 2022 Mar 8.

Effect of vitamin D monotherapy on indices of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Konstantinos Prokopidis  1   2 , Panagiotis Giannos  2   3 , Konstantinos Katsikas Triantafyllidis  2   4 , Konstantinos S Kechagias  2   5 , Jakub Mesinovic  6   7 , Oliver C Witard  8 , David Scott  6   7
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Effect of vitamin D monotherapy on indices of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Konstantinos Prokopidis et al. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D supplementation is proposed as a potentially effective nutritional intervention to mitigate the risk of sarcopenia. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the impact of vitamin D supplementation monotherapy on indices of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. Eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared the effect of vitamin D supplementation (as monotherapy) with placebo on indices of sarcopenia in older (>50 years) adults. Using the random effects inverse-variance model, we calculated the mean difference (MD) in handgrip strength (HGS), short physical performance battery (SPPB), timed up and go (TUG), and appendicular lean mass (ALM) between groups. We also calculated the standardized mean difference (SMD) in general muscle strength and general physical performance (composite plot of all muscle strength and physical performance outcomes, respectively) between groups.

Results: Ten RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. A significant decrease in SPPB scores was observed with vitamin D supplementation compared with placebo (MD: -0.23; 95% CI -0.40 to -0.06; I2 = 0%; P = 0.007). Vitamin D supplementation conferred no effect on HGS (MD: -0.07 kg; 95% CI -0.70 to 0.55; I2 = 51%, P = 0.82), TUG (MD: 0.07 s; 95% CI -0.08 to 0.22; I2 = 0%, P = 0.35), ALM (MD: 0.06 kg/m2 ; 95% CI: -0.32 to 0.44; I2 = 73%, P = 0.77), general muscle strength (SMD: -0.01; 95% CI -0.17 to 0.15; I2 = 42%, P = 0.90), or general physical performance (SMD: -0.02; 95% CI -0.23 to 0.18; I2 = 71%, P = 0.83).

Conclusions: Vitamin D supplementation did not improve any sarcopenia indices in community-dwelling older adults and may compromise some aspects of physical performance. Future studies are warranted to investigate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on individual indices of SPPB, including mobility and balance, in older adults.

Keywords: Frailty; Handgrip strength; Older adults; Physical performance; Sarcopenia; Vitamin D.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the search strategy employed in the literature search.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of vitamin D supplementation on changes in (A) short physical performance battery, (B) handgrip strength, (C) appendicular lean mass, and (D) timed up and go, compared with placebo.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of vitamin D supplementation on changes in (A) general muscle strength [handgrip strength (HGS) and knee extension test at 180° (KET)] and (B) general physical performance [(short physical performance battery (SPPB), timed up and go (TUG) and chair stand test (CST)], compared with placebo.
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Comment in

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