Association of low vitamin D levels with the frailty syndrome in men and women

Michelle Shardell, Gregory E. Hicks, Ram R. Miller, Stephen Kritchevsky, Daniel Andersen, Stefania Bandinelli, Antonio Cherubini, Luigi Ferrucci

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

136 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. Although both vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]) insufficiency and the frailty syndrome are more prevalent in women than men, sex-specific associations have not been explored. We estimated sex-specific associations of low 25(OH)D with frailty. Vitamin D insufficiency can result in hyperparathyroidism, and thus, parathyroid hormone (PTH) was explored as a potential mediator in the relationship between 25(OH)D levels and frailty. Methods. The sample included 444 male and 561 female participants aged 65 years and older from the InCHIANTI study for whom 25(OH)D levels and frailty information were available. Frailty was defined as the presence of at least three of the five following criteria: slowness, weakness, low energy expenditure, exhaustion, and weight loss. Logistic regression models estimated the association between serum levels of 25(OH)D and PTH with frailty, controlling for potential confounders. Results. Independent of covariates, men with 25(OH)D

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)69-75
Number of pages7
JournalJournals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Volume64
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Frailty syndrome
  • InCHIANTI
  • Parathyroid hormone
  • Vitamin D

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aging
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • General Medicine

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