None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Low vitamin D levels in the blood are a common problem in the elderly. One of the main functions of vitamin D is to help absorb calcium to keep bones strong, but low vitamin D levels have been associated with muscle weakness and an increased risk of falls. Low vitamin D levels have also been linked to a number of neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. Since the role of the nervous system is to send signals to the muscles to produce smooth and coordinated movements to maintain balance and prevent falling, it is possible that the increased risk of falling that has been associated with low vitamin D levels is related to its effects on the brain and nervous system. This study has been designed to investigate the effects of 3-months of vitamin D supplementation on muscle strength, muscle power and function as well as neural activity in the brain and nervous system in older women with mild vitamin D deficiency. Women aged 60 years and over will be randomised to receive either 2000 IU of vitamin D supplementation daily or a matched placebo control. Women will undergo muscle strength and function tests as well as non-invasive neural testing prior to study commencement and after 3 months' supplementation.
Interventions
This is a 3-month double-blinded, placebo controlled trial. Women allocated to the vitamin D treatment group will be asked to take 2x1000 IU vitamin D3 supplements (oral tablet, Blackmores Vitamin D3) per day for 3 months.
Sponsors
Deakin University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Healthy older women (aged 60 years and over) with insufficient serum vitamin D levels (25-hydroxyvitamin D between 25 and 60 nmol/L) who are able to speak English proficiently and walk unaided or with minimal assistance (walking stick) for at least 50 m.
Exclusion criteria
Participants will be ineligible based on the following: 1) current or prior participation in resistance exercise (greater or equal to once a week) and/or participating in greater than 150 min of physical activity per week in the past 3 months, 2) acute or terminal illness likely to compromise exercise testing, 3) unstable or ongoing cardiovascular/ respiratory disorders, 4) musculoskeletal or neurological diseases disrupting voluntary movement or that might limit testing, 5) upper or lower extremity fracture in the past 3 months, 6) visual impairment not corrected with glasses; 7) unable to follow instructions; and 8) currently taking vitamin D supplements (greater than 200 IU/d), and 9) not willing to take vitamin D supplements or placebo supplements for 3 months.
Outcome results
None listed