Associations between frailty and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations in older Australian men: the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Poor vitamin D status and frailty are common in older people and associated with adverse health outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels and frailty and components of frailty in older Australian men.

METHODS:

Cross-sectional analysis of the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project, a large epidemiological study conducted in Sydney, Australia, between January 2005 and May 2007. Participants included 1,659 community-dwelling men. Main outcome measurements were frailty (assessed using the Cardiovascular Health Study), frailty criteria comprising five core components: weight loss; reduced muscular strength/weakness; slow walking speed; exhaustion; and low activity level, and the separate components of frailty. Covariates included serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels measured by radioimmunoassay, age, country of birth, season of blood collection, sun exposure, body mass index, vitamin D supplement use, income, measures of health, parathyroid hormone, estimated glomerular function.

RESULTS:

Frailty was present in 9.2% of the sample. Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels were independently associated with frailty and with four of the five components of frailty (except weight loss).

CONCLUSIONS:

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were independently associated with frailty in older men. This suggests that there might be a number of different biological mechanisms for how low vitamin D status might contribute to the frailty syndrome. In addition, the possibility that improving vitamin D status may specifically influence the incidence and progression of frailty needs to be explored.

• Authors: Vasant Hirani, Vasi Naganathan, Robert G Cumming, Fiona Blyth, David G Le Couteur, David J Handelsman, Louise M Waite, Markus J Seibel
• Journal: The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences (J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci) Vol. 68 Issue 9 Pg. 1112-21 (Sep 2013) ISSN: 1758-535X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23657973 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Vitamin D
• 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D
• 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Aging (blood, physiology)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Fatigue (blood)
• Frail Elderly (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Motor Activity (physiology)
• Muscle Weakness (blood)
• New South Wales (epidemiology)
• Risk Factors
• Vitamin D (analogs & derivatives, blood)
• Walking (physiology)
• Weight Loss (physiology)