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Romanian Academy
The Publishing House of the Romanian Academy
ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUC)
The International Journal of Romanian Society of Endocrinology / Registered in 1938in Web of Science Master Journal List
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Acta Endocrinologica (Buc)
Kocak MZ, Aktas G, Atak B, Bilgin S, Kurtkulagi O, Duman TT, Ozcil IE
The Association between Vitamin D Levels and Handgrip Strength in Elderly Men
Acta Endo (Buc) 2020, 16 (2): 263-266doi: 10.4183/aeb.2020.263
Context. Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that acts
by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) found in many
tissues. According to the long-term mechanism, vitamin D
causes the proliferation and differentiation of muscle cells by
gene transcription.
Objective. We aimed to evaluate the relationship
between muscle strength and serum vitamin D levels in
elderly men.
Design. Cross-sectional study.
Subjects and Methods. Male patients over age 50
were included in the study. Study population was divided
into 2 groups with handgrip strength according to body mass
index, either as subjects with weak or with normal handgrip
strength test (HGST). Vitamin D levels and other variables
compared between weak and normal groups.
Results. Vitamin D level of weak and normal groups
were 7.5 (3-19.9) μg/L, and 11.6 (11.6-34.9) μg/L, which
means significant reduced vitamin D levels in weakness
group (p=0.01). Vitamin D levels were significantly
correlated with HGST levels (r:0.362, p=0.001). Vitamin
D levels were found to be an independent predictor of
weakness according to HGST in logistic regression analysis
(OR: 0.453, 95% Cl:0.138-0.769, p=0.05).
Conclusions. Low vitamin D level is an
independent risk factor for muscle weakness in men aged
more than 50 years. Therefore, vitamin D levels should be
screened and early replacement should be initiated for the
sake of improvement of muscle strength in elderly subjects
that vulnerable for frailty.
Keywords: vitamin D, muscle strength, handgrip
stress test.
Correspondence: Gulali Aktas MD, Abant Izzet Baysal University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, 14200, Golkoy, Bolu,
Turkey, E-mail: draliaktas@yahoo.com