Association of serum vitamin D with frailty in older Korean adults

The influence of vitamin D supplementation and strength training on health biomarkers and chromosomal damage in community-dwelling older adults

Older adults lack of proper physical activity which is often accompanied by vitamin D deficiency. Those factors are known to contribute to health issues in the later years of life. The main goal of this intervention study was to investigate the effect of different vitamin D supplementation strategies for 4 weeks solely or combined with a 10-week strength training program on chromosomal stability in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in community-dwelling older people. One hundred women and men (65-85 years) received either vitamin D3 daily (800 IU), a monthly dose (50.000 IU) or placebo for 17 weeks. All groups received 400 mg calcium daily. The fitness status of the study participants was measured using the 30- second chair stand test, the handgrip strength test and the 6-min walk test. The cytokinesis block micronucleus cytome (CBMN) assay was applied to analyze chromosomal anomalies, including cytotoxic and genotoxic parameters. Changes in antioxidant markers were measured in plasma. Walking distance and chair stand performance improved significantly. Increased levels of the parameters of the CBMN assay were detected for all intervention groups at study end. At baseline micronuclei (MNi) frequency correlated significantly with BMI in both sexes (females: r = 0.369, p = 0.034; males: r = 0.265, p = 0.035), but not with vitamin D serum levels. In females, body fat (r = 0.372, p < 0.001) and functional parameter using the 30-s chair stand test (r = 0.311, p = 0.002) correlated significantly with MNi frequency. Interestingly, not vitamin D supplementation but 10 weeks of resistance training increased MNi frequency indicating elevated chromosomal instability and also adverse effects on antioxidant markers including glutathione and FRAP were detected in the group of community-dwelling older adults.

Serum level of Vitamin D is associated with COVID-19 mortality rate in hospitalized patients

Background:

Due to widespread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, identification of its risk factors and clinical characteristics are important. The aim of the present study was to assess Vitamin D levels in individuals with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-19 infection and to report on its potential as a predictive marker.

Materials and Methods:

All patients, diagnosed with COVID-19 infection from February 16 to March 21, 2020, and referred to Firoozgar Hospital, Tehran, Iran, were enrolled in this study. Vitamin D analysis was undertaken on patient serum samples using a commercial kit (Pars Azmoon Co., Tehran, Iran). SPSS v. 22 was used for statistical analysis.

Results:

Vitamin D serum concentration was analyzed in a total of 317 patients whose mean age ± standard deviation was 62.05 ± 15 years and with 62.5% being male. A significant association of Vitamin D level and death was observed. Higher levels of serum Vitamin D had protection against death (odds ratio = 0.955 [95% confidence interval = 0.923–0.988], P = 0.008).

Conclusion:

As a preliminary study in the Iranian population who suffered COVID-19 disease, we identified that Vitamin D deficiency was associated with a higher death rate and intensive care unit admission.

Pinpointing a Role for Vitamin D in Frailty: A Time for Animal Models?

Frailty is a condition marked by greater susceptibility to adverse outcomes, including disability and mortality, which affects up to 50% of those 80 years of age and older. Concurrently, serum vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency, for which as many as 70% of older adults may be at risk, potentially play an important role in frailty onset and progression. Large population driven studies have uncovered associations between low serum vitamin D levels and higher incidence of frailty. However, attempts to apply vitamin D therapeutically to treat and/or prevent frailty have not yielded consistent support for benefits. Given the complexity and inconsistency arising from human studies involving vitamin D, our research group has recently published on animal models of vitamin D insufficiency. Combining our model with the emerging development of animal frailty assessment, we identified that higher than standard levels of vitamin D supplementation may delay frailty in mice. In this viewpoint article, we will discuss current knowledge regarding the importance of vitamin D in frailty progression, the emerging significance of animal models in addressing these relationships, and the future for pre-clinical and clinical research.