Vitamin D and physical performance in older men and women visiting the emergency department because of a fall: data from the improving medication prescribing to reduce risk of falls (IMPROveFALL) study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) is associated with physical performance in men and women.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

SETTING: Emergency departments (EDs) of five hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS: Older adults who visited an ED because of a fall (N = 616).

MEASUREMENTS: Physical performance was assessed using the Timed Up and Go Test, the Five Time Sit to Stand Test, handgrip strength, and the tandem stand test. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the association between physical performance and log-transformed 25(OH)D concentration adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS: In men, higher serum 25(OH)D concentration was significantly associated with better handgrip strength (regression coefficient (B) = 3.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.04-5.69), faster TUG time (B = -2.82, 95% CI = -4.91 to -0.73), and faster FTSS time (B = -3.39, 95% CI = -5.67 to -1.11). In women, higher serum 25(OH)D concentration was significantly associated with faster TUG time (B = -2.68, 95% CI = -4.87 to -0.49).

CONCLUSION: A positive association was found between serum 25(OH)D level and physical performance in men and women. Intervention studies are needed of vitamin D-deficient older men and women to further investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation in this group.