Dutch researchers have found that the known link between low vitamin D and functional decline presents sooner, the older a person is.
The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism started with the premise that an older person’s Vitamin D status is known to influence muscle health and can affect their ability to perform routine daily tasks like dressing, preparing meals and climbing stairs.
Knowing that Vitamin D influenced muscle health and that a reduction in muscle mass increased the risk of functional limitations among older individuals, the researchers aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D status and these functional limitations.
Using the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, researchers questioned two cohorts of participants, the first aged 55 to 65 years and the second aged 65 to 88 years, on the ability and degree of difficulty to perform six functions of daily life.
They found that vitamin D deficiency was associated with an increase in limitations at three years in the older cohort, compared to an increase in limitations at six years in the younger cohort with a vitamin D deficiency.
The researchers concluded that Vitamin D status was associated with functional limitations both cross-sectionally and longitudinally in people aged 55 to 65 years as well as individuals 65 years and older.
“The possible association of vitamin D with functional limitations is present after a shorter follow-up time in the oldest age group compared with the younger age group,” the Vitamin D status and functional decline study found.
I am thinking this is right.