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Journal of
Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology ISSN: 2469-5858

Citation

Nascimento NAP, Moreira PFP, Carvalho VA, Aragão L, Marin-Mio RV, et al. (2019) Effect of Vitamin D Level and Physical Exercise on the Physical Performance and Functional Test Results in Elderly Women. J Geriatr Med Gerontol 5:061. doi.org/10.23937/2469-5858/1510061

Copyright

© 2019 Nascimento NAP, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

RESEARCH ARTICLE | OPEN ACCESS DOI: 10.23937/2469-5858/1510061

Effect of Vitamin D Level and Physical Exercise on the Physical Performance and Functional Test Results in Elderly Women

Neide AP Nascimento1,2*, Patricia FP Moreira1, Vanessa A Carvalho1, Levy Aragão2, Rosangela Villa Marin-Mio3, Marise Lazaretti-Castro3 and Maysa S Cendoroglo1

1Division of Geriatric and Gerontology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

2Social Service of Commerce, São Paulo, Brazil

3Division of Endocrinology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Background

Physical exercises are highly effective in slowing muscle wasting and loss of function. However, whether vitamin D deficiency can interfere with this process in elderly individuals remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of 25(OH)D supplementation along with physical exercise in elderly women in an intervention study design.

Methods

We analyzed data from elderly women aged ≥ 60 years (mean age, 67 ± 5 years) who exercised regularly for at least one year at the Social Service of Commerce Santana, Community Center. We included 146 elderly women in the aquatic training program (AT), 99 elderly women in the multifunctional fitness program (MF), and 100 community-dwelling elderly women who had not been exercising for the last year as the control group (CT). In each group, we administered cholecalciferol to those who had 25(OH)D levels below the median levels. The individuals in the aquatic training supplemented group (ATSG), multifunctional fitness supplemented group (MFSG), and control supplemented group (CTSG) received one bottle of cholecalciferol each. They were instructed to consume 21,000 IU/week (4 drops/week) of cholecalciferol for 12 months. The timed up-and-go (TUG) test, 2-min step (2MST), 30-s chair stand (CS), functional reach (FRT), unipedal balance test with visual control (UB), and a portable dynamometer for the strength of hip flexors (HS) were conducted, and the serum 25(OH)D and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were measured at the beginning and end of the 12 months. The treatments were compared using a general linear model for repeated measures, with p < 0.005.

Results

There was a significant increase in 25(OH)D levels in ATSG (p < 0.001), MFSG (p < 0.001), and CTSG (p < 0.001). The relationship between 25(OH)D levels and physical exercise was significant in TUG (p = 0.005), UB (p = 0.03), HS (p < 0.001), CS (p = 0.04), and 2MST (p = 0.02).

Conclusion

We found an interaction of 25(OH)D levels with physical exercise in elderly women for maintaining independence in daily activities and performance.