Case in point: According to a recent study1 published in Calcified Tissue International, low vitamin D levels can contribute to a loss in muscle strength for older adults. The study began in 2012 when they measured the vitamin D levels and grip strength of 3,205 participants. Vitamin D levels were measured by serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, or 25(OH)D, with 12 ng/ml representing deficiency and 20 ng/ml, representing insufficiency. It’s worth noting that this categorization is a bit different from other clinical suggestions of vitamin D deficiency, which define 20 ng/ml as the cutoff for deficiency2. Researchers focused on dynapenia, or the age-related loss of muscle strength, which is partially explained by muscle atrophy. None of the participants presented with dynapenia at the first evaluation in 2012. Participants were evaluated over four years to determine the relationship between vitamin D levels and dynapenia. This finding becomes even more salient when considering the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and the growing aging population: You see, 29% 3of U.S. adults are already vitamin D deficient, and one in six people will be over 60 by 2030, according to the World Health Organization4. The results of this study suggest that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for the loss of muscle strength in older adults. In order to avoid the worst effects of vitamin D deficiency, it’s crucial to check your vitamin D levels, either at home or at your doctor’s office. In fact, you may want to recommend anyone in your life over 50 to do the same. To get ahead of it, consider taking a vitamin D supplement. You can find our favorites here. Keeping your muscles strong becomes even more important as you age, as muscle mass and strength are massively beneficial in preventing falls and injuries. (It’s so important that mindbodygreen even flagged strength training for longevity as a 2023 wellness trend.) Looking for a premium vitamin D to support healthy muscle strength? Check out mindbodygreen’s top selections for the best vitamin D supplements here.
