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Sex-dependent association of serum vitamin D with muscle strength in older adults: NHANES 2001–2002

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 78, pages 847–854 (2024)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

Although several studies have suggested a potential positive association between serum vitamin D levels and muscle strength in older adults, it remains unclear whether this relationship is sex-dependent.

Aim

To evaluate the association between serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and muscle strength in older adults and to assess whether this association is dependent on sex.

Methods

This cross-sectional study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2001 and 2002. A total of 1173 individuals aged 50–85 years (630 men and 543 women) were included in the analysis. The peak isokinetic force of the knee extensor was assessed using a kinetic communicator isokinetic dynamometer. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured using the standardized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Linear regression analyses were conducted to estimate coefficients and 95% confidence intervals for muscle strength across tertiles of serum vitamin D levels, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

Tertiles of serum vitamin D were positively associated with muscle strength in older men (p-trend = 0.007), whereas no association was observed in older women (p-trend = 0.140) or in the total sample (men and women together; p-trend = 0.139).

Conclusion

Serum vitamin D levels were positively associated with muscle strength specifically in older men, whereas no association was observed in older women. These results suggest that the relationship between vitamin D and strength may be sex-dependent.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2: Linear regression between tertiles of serum vitamin D and peak force (Newtons).

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Data availability

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) are publicly available and can be accessed directly at https://www.cdc.gov/Nchs/Nhanes.

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Acknowledgements

IMS and EPO are grateful to the “Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico” (CNPq, Brazil).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Nutrition, Exercise and Health (LaNES), School of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Isabela M. Sponchiado, Larissa S. Limirio, Flávia M. S. de Branco & Erick P. de Oliveira

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  1. Isabela M. Sponchiado
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  2. Larissa S. Limirio
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  3. Flávia M. S. de Branco
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  4. Erick P. de Oliveira
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Contributions

IMS participated in interpretation of the data and wrote the manuscript; LSL and FMSB participated in the analysis, interpretation of the data and revised the manuscript; EPO participated in the analysis and interpretation of the data; wrote and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Erick P. de Oliveira.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval

NHANES is a publicly available dataset, and all participants provided written informed consent, as per the approval from the National Center for Health Statistics Research Ethics Review Board (NCHS ERB) (protocol #98-12 for NHANES cycle 1999-2002).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Sponchiado, I.M., Limirio, L.S., de Branco, F.M.S. et al. Sex-dependent association of serum vitamin D with muscle strength in older adults: NHANES 2001–2002. Eur J Clin Nutr 78, 847–854 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-024-01472-2

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