THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN VITAMIN D LEVELS AND HANDGRIP STRENGTH IN ELDERLY MEN

[Relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and handgrip strength in middle-aged and elderly people in five cities of Western China]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and handgrip strength in middle-aged and elderly people in 5 cities of Western China.

METHODS

Based on the data of a cross-sectional survey conducted in the 5 cities of Western China from February to July 2023, the relevant demographic characteristics of people were collected by questionnaire, handgrip strength was collected by physical examination, and serum 25(OH)D was detected by HPLC-MS/MS. The association between the serum 25(OH)D and handgrip strength was analyzed using Logistic regression and Chi-square test for between-group comparisons models.

RESULTS

The prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency and insufficiency among the middle-aged and elderly people in the 5 cities of Western China was 52.9% and 34.5%, respectively. The people who were older, female, and sampled in winter had lower serum 25(OH)D levels (P < 0.05). The prevalence of loss of handgrip strength among the middle-aged and elderly people was 25.3%. The prevalence of handgrip strength loss was higher in the aged 65-80 participants with 25(OH)D deficiency (45. 0%) than in those with 25(OH)D insufficiency (32.6%) and 25(OH)D sufficiency (20.6%). The highest prevalence of loss of handgrip strength was found in the aged 75-80 participants with 25(OH)D deficiency (62. 1%), followed by the 25(OH)D insufficient group (11.1%, P < 0.05). The study found that middle-aged and elderly people with 25(OH)D deficiency had a 1.4-fold increased risk of handgrip strength loss compared with those with 25(OH)D sufficiency (OR=2.403, 95%CI: 1.202-4.804, P=0.013). No significant association was found between 25(OH)D insufficiency and handgrip strength status in the middle-aged and elderly people. For every 5 μg/L increase in total serum 25(OH)D, the risk of handgrip strength loss reduced by 13.1% (OR=0.869, 95%CI: 0.768-0.982, P=0.025). For every 5 μg/L increase in serum 25(OH)D2, the risk of handgrip strength loss reduced by 24.1% (OR=0.759, 95%CI: 0.582-0.990, P=0.042). No significant association was found between serum 25(OH)D3 levels and the risk of handgrip strength loss. The risk of handgrip strength loss in middle-aged and elderly people was reduced by 25.2% for each incremental increase in the total serum 25(OH)D levels (deficient, insufficient and sufficient) (OR=0.748, 95%CI: 0.598-0.936, P=0.011). The risk of handgrip loss was reduced by 40.0% for each incremental increase in serum 25(OH)D levels in the aged 65-80 and aged 65-69 participants, and by 80.0% for each incremental increase in 25(OH)D levels in the aged 75-80 parti-cipants.

CONCLUSION

Serum total 25(OH)D and 25(OH)D2 levels are associated with handgrip strength status in middle-aged and elderly people in the 5 cities of Western China.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of In-Hospital Exercise Rehabilitation in Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Combined with Sarcopenia Effect of Lifestyle Management on Disease Status in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of in-hospital exercise rehabilitation on glucose and lipid metabolism and healthy physical fitness in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) combined with sarcopenia, and to provide a reference for the effective implementation of exercise rehabilitation for middle-aged and elderly patients with T2DM combined with sarcopenia in healthcare institutions.

METHODS

This study retrospectively included 122 patients with T2DM combined with sarcopenia treated at the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from August 2017 to August 2020 and randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group. The control group was given conventional treatment and the experimental group was given exercise rehabilitation in the hospital for 12 weeks to compare the indexes related to glucose and lipid metabolism and healthy fitness in the two groups.

RESULTS

After the intervention, the experimental group showed significant decreases in fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density cholesterol (LDL-C) and body fat percentage (p < 0.05), while high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), grip strength, lower limb extension, lower limb flexion, peak oxygen uptake were significantly higher (p < 0.05) and were more significant at 12 weeks compared to the 6-week intervention (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant changes in any of the glucose metabolism indicators in the control group before and after the intervention. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA showed that at control baseline levels, HbA1c decreased significantly in the experimental group after both 6 and 12 weeks of intervention compared to the control group (p < 0.05). After 6 weeks of intervention, the experimental group showed a significant decrease in body fat percentage and a significant increase in grip strength. After 12 weeks of intervention, the experimental group showed an increase in glycemic control from 33.3% to 73.3%, a significant decrease in body fat percentage and a significant increase in grip strength, lower limb extension and lower limb flexion strength and peak oxygen uptake.

CONCLUSION

In-hospital exercise rehabilitation can effectively improve the glycemic and lipid profiles of patients with T2DM combined with sarcopenia and enhance their health fitness, with good clinical rehabilitation effects.

U-shaped association between plasma C-peptide and sarcopenia: A cross-sectional study of elderly Chinese patients with diabetes mellitus

Limited research exists regarding the relationship between fasting plasma C-peptide levels and sarcopenia. As a result, our study aimed to examine this association in elderly Chinese diabetic patients. This cross-sectional study included 288 elderly patients with diabetes mellitus from the Fourth People's Hospital in Guiyang who were enrolled prospectively between March 2020 and February 2023. The independent variable of interest was fasting plasma C-peptide, while the dependent variable was sarcopenia. Data on several covariates, including demographic factors, lifestyle habits, co-morbidities, anthropometric indicators, and laboratory indicators, were also collected. Of the 288 participants, 27.43% (79/288) had sarcopenia. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, we found a U-shaped association between fasting plasma C-peptide levels and sarcopenia, with inflection points identified at approximately 774 pmol/L and 939 mmol/L. Within the range of 50-744 pmol/L, each 100 pmol/L increase in CysC was associated with a 37% decrease in the odds of sarcopenia (odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49 to 0.83; P < 0.001). Additionally, within the range of 939-1694 pmol/L, each 100 pmol/L increase in fasting plasma C-peptide was associated with a 76% increase in the odds of sarcopenia (odds ratio [OR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 2.81; P = 0.017). Our study revealed a U-shaped association between fasting plasma C-peptide levels and the likelihood of sarcopenia, with lower risk in the range of 774-939 pmol/L. These findings may assist in the development of more effective prevention and treatment strategies for sarcopenia in elderly diabetic patients.

Assessment of dynapenia and undernutrition in primary care, a systematic screening study in community medicine

Screening for sarcopenia is a growing public health issue since associated with functional alterations and an increase in morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the prevalence of decreased muscle strength (dynapenia) in patients aged 18 to 74 in community medicine, as measured in the general practitioner's office, and to assess the prevalence of undernutrition in this population.

METHOD

Muscle strength was measured with a Hand Grip (HG) dynamometer according to European recommended thresholds and French guidelines. Malnutrition was defined according to the GLIM criteria.

RESULTS

Of 341 patients, 303 were evaluated (89%): mean age was 47.8 ± 17.4 years, including 51.2% women, 103 with an acute disease (AD) and 200 with a chronic disease (CD). 23.5% were below the 10th percentile threshold in the CD group and 19.4% in the AD group. For these patients, muscle age, evaluated on the median values for age, was higher by 39.3 ± 15.2 years for men and by 41.5 ± 13.6 years for women. Maximum HG values were significantly correlated with changes in International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) score (F = 10.22; p = 0.0017) and weight changes (%) (F = 5.30; p = 0.0227) in women only, regardless of age, BMI, disease, professional status or type of work (manual or not); 19.1% suffered from malnutrition (10.9% Stage 1 and 8.3% Stage 2), with 20.0% in the CD group and 17.4% in the AD group.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the feasibility of screening for sarcopenia in primary care community medicine. The prevalence of dynapenia in the studied population (nearly one in 5 patients) and the observed higher-than-expected undernutrition (17.5%) justify their screening for appropriate management care.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04451694; referred to as "observational research", "non-interventional", or « non-RIPH ».

Comprehensive evaluation of older patients with suspected malignancy: 5-year experience of a tertiary geriatric inpatient unit

OBJECTIVE

Geriatric cancer population is growing. Both cancer and geriatric conditions are associated with some degree of inflammatory burden. To comprehensively present our five years of experience in patients with suspicion of a malignancy, signs and symptoms that are more prominent as indicator of malignancies, conditions that cause malignancy-like symptoms, and common malignancies and newly diagnosed malignancies in geriatric patients with a history of cancer.

METHODS

Patients hospitalized with suspected malignancy in a geriatric inpatient unit were included. Demographic data, hospitalization symptoms, clinical findings, smoking history, laboratory and further examinations, comprehensive geriatric assessment scores, length of hospital stay and discharge diagnoses were examined. Endoscopy and colonoscopy findings were also recorded.

RESULTS

Of the 1,104 patients hospitalized for various reasons in the five-year period, 197 (106 women) were suspected of having a malignancy. Mean age was 78.22 ± 7.27. A total of 65 (33%) patients were diagnosed with a malignancy. Amount of smoking (pack/year) and geriatric depression scale (GDS) scores were significantly higher in malignant group (p = .009; p < .001; respectively). Of the hospitalization symptoms, frequency of lumbar-hip-back pain was significantly higher in the malignant group (p = .043). The three most common cancers were hematologic (32%), lung (15%), and gastrointestinal cancers (15%). Gastritis was the most common pathological finding from gastroscopies (58%), and adenoma from colonoscopies (24%). Malignancies were detected in 40% of patients with a history of malignancy, and 55% of the newly detected malignancies were new primaries. Immunoglobulin G4-related disease was one of the detected interested benign conditions.

CONCLUSION

The frequency and presentation patterns of malignancies may differ in older adults. Depressive symptoms are common in geriatric cancer patients. Geriatric patients with a history of malignancy should be evaluated in detail for new primary malignancies.

Serum vitamin D levels and peak cough flow in patients with subacute ischemic stroke

Aspiration pneumonia is a major, potentially fatal complication after ischemic stroke. Decreased coughing function is a significant risk factor for aspiration in ischemic stroke survivors. Peak cough flow (PCF) is a useful tool for assessing cough function. Vitamin D deficiency is frequent after ischemic stroke and is linked to a variety of muscle functions and physical activities. There has been no investigation of the correlation between vitamin D levels and PCF in ischemic stroke survivors. This study aimed to examine the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and PCF in patients with ischemic stroke. Patients with ischemic stroke who underwent PCF evaluation and serum vitamin D level measurements within 1 month of onset were retrospectively recruited. The association between PCF parameters and serum vitamin D levels was also analyzed. In total, 142 patients with ischemic stroke were included. PCF parameters and serum vitamin D levels were found to be significantly correlated. Moreover, serum vitamin D levels were shown to be a significant predictor of PCF parameters. Serum vitamin D levels were related to PCF parameters in patients with ischemic stroke. In addition, serum vitamin D level may serve as a predictor of coughing function in patients with ischemic stroke.

The Evaluation of Gait and Balance for Patients with Early Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective

Falls often occur in patients with diabetic neuropathy due to biomechanical alternation. The implication of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) on gait and balance remains poorly understood.

Methods

A total of 11 dynamic gait, balance and electrophysiological parameters were evaluated in 176 participants. The biomechanical parameters were compared between groups.

Results

Stride length and stride velocity were significantly lower in all subgroups of DPN compared with healthy subjects (p<0.05). Stance phase and double support phase were significantly higher, but swing phase were significantly lower across all subgroups of DPN than healthy subjects (p<0.05). Under eyes-open standing, the ML and AP range parameters of CoM sway, ankle sway and hip sway, CoM sway index, ankle swing index in both subclinical and confirmed DPN patients were all significantly higher compared to healthy subjects (p<0.05). Under eyes-closed standing, AP range parameters of CoM sway in subclinical DPN and confirmed DPN patients were significantly higher than healthy subjects (p<0.05). The hip sway areas in diabetics were significantly higher compared to healthy subjects (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The abnormal biomechanical parameters existed in the early stages of patients with DPN. The static balance under eyes-open and eye-closed condition is maintained by ankle joint compensation strategy and hip joint protection strategy. An early evaluation and better risk management is essential for diabetic patients with a history of more than 5 years even without DPN clinical symptoms and signs.

Clinical Trial Registration Number

No. ChiCTR1800019179, www.chictr.org.cn.

The Role of Lifestyle Intervention, in Addition to Drugs, for Diabetic Kidney Disease with Sarcopenic Obesity

Diabetic kidney disease is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in developing and developed countries. The growing prevalence and clinical challenges of sarcopenic obesity have been associated with the frailty and disability of diabetic kidney disease. It has been reported that insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, enhanced oxidative stress and lipotoxicity contribute to the pathophysiology of muscle loss and visceral fat accumulation. Sarcopenic obesity, which is diagnosed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, is associated with worse outcomes in kidney disease. Growing evidence indicates that adherence to healthy lifestyles, including low protein diet, proper carbohydrate control, vitamin D supplement, and regular physical training, has been shown to improve clinical prognosis. Based on the higher risk of sarcopenic-obesity-related renal function decline, it has led to the exploration and investigation of the pathophysiology, clinical aspects, and novel approach of these controversial issues in daily practice.

Association Between Vitamin D Status and Diabetic Foot in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Aims/Introduction

To assess the association between vitamin D and diabetic foot (DF) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), in order to summarize clinical evidence in the prevention and treatment of DF.

Materials and methods

Between January 2012 and December 2019, a total of 1,721 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were continuously enrolled in West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and divided into DF and non‐DF groups according to whether they had DF, and divided into four subgroups according to the admission season. The 25‐OH‐vitamin D levels were compared between groups and subgroups, and independent risk factors discussed for the occurrence of DF.

Results

The vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency rate were higher in the DF group (77.51%) than in the non‐DF group (59.2%). The 25‐OH‐vitamin D levels were lower in the DF group (35.80 nmol/L) than in the non‐DF group (45.48 nmol/L) (P < 0.001). Patients with poor glycemic control had lower 25‐OH‐vitamin D levels (P = 0.01). The levels of 25‐OH‐vitamin D were lower in winter and spring. In the same season, the levels of 25‐OH‐vitamin D in patients with DF were still lower (P < 0.001). The 25‐OH‐vitamin D levels of patients with Wagner grades 0 to 5 showed a downward trend (P = 0.114). The 25‐OH‐vitamin D level was independently associated with diabetic foot (P < 0.001, OR = 0.986).

Conclusions

The low serum vitamin D level was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of DF among Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although vitamin D levels vary seasonally, patients with DF were always at higher risk of having vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency.

RISK OF HYPERCALCEMIA IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH HYPERVITAMINOSIS D AND INTOXICATION

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine the risk of hypercalcemia in a geriatric population with very high dose levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D).

PATIENTS AND METHOD

This study was designed as a retrospective, cross-sectional two-center study for examining the elderly patients with very high 25(OH)D levels (>88ng/mL) between January 2014 and December 2019. After recruitment, subgroup analyses of the patients were performed based on their calcium and vitamin D levels.

RESULTS

A total of 81.101 elderly patients, who had been evaluated for their vitamin D levels, were screened. Of the 458 (0.6%) elderly patients with 25(OH)D>88 ng/mL according to our criteria, 217 patients with complete data were accepted into our study. The median 25(OH)D level was 103.7ng/mL (min-max:88.2-275.9). Most of the elderly patients (86.6%) with very high 25(OH)D levels were normocalcemic. When patients with hypercalcemia were compared with normocalcemic group, no difference was observed in the levels of 25(OH)D, intact parathormone (iPTH), phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and their age. However, the PTH suppression rate was significantly higher in hypercalcemic group (p=0.005).

CONCLUSION

The elderly patients with very high 25(OH)D levels would appear to be mostly normocalcemic whereas life-threatening hypercalcemia would also occur. Treatment and follow-up planning should be done according to the clinical guideline recommendations.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are not associated with impaired postural sway in community-dwelling older women: a 6-year follow-up study

OBJECTIVES

A positive association between levels of blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), an index of vitamin D status, and physical balance has been reported from cross-sectional studies, but longitudinal studies are rare. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that low serum 25(OH)D levels are longitudinally associated with impaired postural sway over a 6-year follow-up period in older women.

METHODS

The present cohort consisted of 392 community-dwelling Japanese women aged ≥69 years. Baseline examinations included serum 25(OH)D and physical performance tests, including postural sway velocity. Standing postural sway was evaluated by measuring gravity-center sway velocity. Follow-up physical performance tests were conducted 6 years later.

RESULTS

Mean subject age and serum 25(OH)D levels were 73.3 years (SD 3.7) and 61.0 nmol/L (SD 16.9), respectively. No significant association was found between 25(OH)D levels and changes in postural sway velocity (adjusted P for trend=0.72). Women with 25(OH)D <30 nmol/L tended to have lower Δpostural sway velocity than those with 25(OH)D ≥30 nmol/L (mean, -0.59 vs 0.37 cm/s, respectively; adjusted P=0.13).

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D levels are not longitudinally associated with impaired postural sway in older women. Further longitudinal studies are needed to corroborate the results of this study.