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Published on: July 24, 2013
Relevance of vitamin D in the pathogenesis and therapy of frailty
Olivier Bruyère1, Etienne Cavalier, Fanny Buckinx
1aResearch Unit in Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, University of Liège bDepartment of Clinical Chemistry, University of Liège, CHU Sart-Tilman, Liège, Belgium.
Purpose Of Review:
This article reviews recently published evidence regarding the role of vitamin D in the physiopathology of physical frailty in elderly populations and its role in the management of this geriatric condition.
Recent Findings:
Some recent studies have found a low level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, considered the best marker of vitamin D status, in frail individuals. All prospective studies consistently report that low vitamin D status is associated with an increased risk of becoming frail. Recent studies also suggest that the relationship between vitamin D status and frailty is largely mediated by the development of sarcopenia. Very few well designed randomized controlled trials are available that assess the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention or management of frailty. In the absence of specific guidelines, a minimal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 75 nmol/l is proposed for frail elderly patients by some scientific societies. The doses necessary to reach this target are between 800 and 2000 IU/day.
Summary:
Several studies suggest a potential effect of vitamin D on physical frailty but large clinical trials are lacking at this time to provide solid evidence of clinical benefit.
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