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Updated: Feb 24, 2026
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Published on: March 4, 2016
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and elderly skeletal muscle mass and function in urban north China
Liping Meng1, Qingqing Man1, Linhong Yuan2
1Institute for Nutrition and Health, National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China.
Background And Objectives:
To investigate the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) with skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and function among the elderly in an urban area in northern China.
Methods And Study Design:
A total of 912 participants (316 men, 596 women) aged more than 60 years from 4 communities in Beijing were enrolled. Serum concentrations of 25(OH)D were measured through radioimmunoassay. SMM was assessed through bioelectrical impendence analysis, whereas skeletal muscle function was assessed through grip strength and 4-m regular gait speed measurements. On the basis of expert consensus of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia, low muscle mass was defined as relative skeletal mass index (RSMI) <7.0 kg/m2 for men and <5.7 kg/m2 for women. A noncondition logistical regression model was employed to explore the association between vitamin D and both muscle mass and function.
Results:
Serum 25(OH)D was positively associated with grip strength (β=0.16, SE=0.05). The upper quartile of 25(OH)D was negatively associated with loss of grip strength (OR=0.05, 95% CI: 0.01-0.48) in men but not in women. No significant associations were noted between 25(OH)D and appendicular skeletal muscle mass, RSMI, and gait speed.
Conclusions:
The present study demonstrated a positive association between vitamin D and skeletal muscle strength in elderly Chinese men but not women.
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