Research Platform Active Ageing, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Vienna Doctoral School of Pharmaceutical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences (PhaNuSpo), University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Eur J Nutr. 2024 Apr;63(3):821-834. doi: 10.1007/s00394-023-03303-9. Epub 2024 Jan 9.
Vitamin D status and its association with age-related decline in physical performance and strength have already been highlighted in various ways, but data on the situation in developing countries are scarce. This study aimed to investigate vitamin D status, its association with muscle mass and function, and other potential determinants such as age, sex, lifestyle factors (physical activity, dietary behavior), self-perceived health status, medication intake, education and financial situation in adults from Kosovo.
This cross-sectional study included 297 participants (54.5% women), aged ≥ 40 years. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration, hand grip strength and physical performance tests, body composition, vitamin D dietary intake and knowledge were assessed. The interaction between serum 25(OH)D status, lifestyle factors and muscle traits was investigated.
Vitamin D deficiency (< 50 nmol/L) was observed in 47.5% of the total population, of whom 14.7% of them were severely deficient (< 30 nmol/L). No associations were found between 25(OH)D concentration and age. Daily dietary intake of vitamin D was low (1.89 ± 0.67 µg) and 87.6% of individuals did not take vitamin D supplements. However, vitamin D supplementation was the only variable that added statistical significance (p < 0.05) to the prediction of vitamin D status (3.8%). On the other hand, age, medication intake and vitamin D level contributed significantly to the overall regression model, explaining 24.9% of the 30-s chair stand performance as an indicator of lower-body strength endurance.
Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among community-dwelling adults in Kosovo and low serum 25(OH)D has been associated with low muscle strength. This implies an urgent need for the development of comprehensive prevention strategies, focusing on pharmacological (supplementation) but also on non-pharmacological strategies such as education, food fortification or lifestyle advices.
维生素 D 状况及其与与年龄相关的身体机能和力量下降的关系已被多方面强调，但发展中国家相关数据仍十分匮乏。本研究旨在调查科索沃成年人的维生素 D 状况、其与肌肉量和功能的关系以及其他潜在决定因素，如年龄、性别、生活方式因素（体力活动、饮食行为）、自我感知健康状况、药物摄入、教育和财务状况。
本横断面研究纳入了 297 名（54.5%为女性）年龄≥40 岁的参与者。评估了血清 25-羟维生素 D（25(OH)D）浓度、握力和身体机能测试、身体成分、维生素 D 饮食摄入和知识。研究还调查了血清 25(OH)D 状态、生活方式因素和肌肉特征之间的相互作用。
总人群中维生素 D 缺乏（<50 nmol/L）的比例为 47.5%，其中 14.7%为严重缺乏（<30 nmol/L）。25(OH)D 浓度与年龄之间无相关性。每日维生素 D 饮食摄入量较低（1.89±0.67μg），且 87.6%的个体未服用维生素 D 补充剂。然而，维生素 D 补充剂是唯一能为维生素 D 状态（3.8%）的预测增加统计学意义的变量（p<0.05）。另一方面，年龄、药物摄入和维生素 D 水平对总回归模型有显著贡献，可解释 30 秒坐站测试（一种下肢力量耐力的指标）的 24.9%的变异。
科索沃社区居民中维生素 D 缺乏非常普遍，且低血清 25(OH)D 与肌肉力量低下有关。这意味着迫切需要制定综合预防策略，重点关注药物治疗（补充）和非药物策略，如教育、食物强化或生活方式建议。
