Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and physical function in adult men

• Published in: Clinical endocrinology (Oxford) 2011-03, Vol.74 (3), p.370-376
• Main Authors: Ceglia, Lisa, Chiu, Gretchen R., Harris, Susan S., Araujo, Andre B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Adult; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Boston; Endocrinopathies; European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Muscle Strength - physiology; Parathyroid Hormone - blood; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Social Class; Testosterone - blood; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Vitamin D - analogs & derivatives; Vitamin D - blood
• ISSN: 0300-0664; 1365-2265
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2010.03926.x

Summary Objective  Recent reports suggest that vitamin D status influences musculoskeletal health; yet, there are limited data in adult men. This study investigated whether serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration was associated with lean body mass, muscle strength and physical performance in men. Design  Population‐based, observational survey. Participants  1219 black, Hispanic and white randomly selected men aged 30–79 years from the Boston Area Community Health/Bone Survey. Measurements  Lean body mass by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry, hand grip strength, a composite physical function score (chair stand and walking speed), 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), testosterone, age, race, body mass index, socioeconomic status, education, smoking, arthritis, self‐reported health, calcium intake, physical activity. Results  The distributions of serum 25(OH)D quartiles differed by race/ethnicity, education and smoking status. After adjustment for multiple lifestyle factors, serum 25(OH)D was not related to lean body mass, grip strength or the composite physical function score (all P > 0·20). There was no variation in the associations between 25(OH)D level and outcomes by race/ethnicity. The relationship between PTH and the outcomes revealed similar results. Conclusion  In this population‐based sample of adult men with a broad age range, there was no association between serum 25(OH)D concentration and lean body mass, muscle strength and physical function after controlling for multiple lifestyle factors.