Serum Vitamin D and Age-Related Muscle Loss in Afro-Caribbean Men: The Importance of Age and Diabetic Status

Abstract

Background: Prospective studies examining the potential association of vitamin D with age-related muscle loss have shown inconsistent results. Objective: To examine the association between baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), and prospective change in lean mass with aging in African ancestry population. We also determined if associations were modulated by age and diabetes mellitus (DM). Design: Prospective observational cohort study. Setting: Data were collected from a random sub-sample of 574 men, participants of the Tobago Bone Health Study (TBHS). Participants: 574 Afro-Caribbean men, aged 43+ years (mean age: 59.1 ± 10.5), who were randomly selected as the participants in both the baseline and the follow-up visits. Measurements: Baseline fasting serum 25(OH)D was measured using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and and 1,25(OH)2D was measured using radioimmunosassay (RIA). Changes in dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-measured appendicular lean mass (ALM), and total body lean mass (TBLM) were measured over an average of 6.0 ± 0.5 years. The associations of 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D with ALM and TBLM were assessed by multiple linear regression model after adjusting for potential confounders. Results: When stratifying all men into two groups by age, greater baseline 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D levels were associated with smaller losses of ALM and TBLM in older (age 60+ years) but not in younger (age 43 – 59 years) men. When stratifying by DM status, the associations of 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D with declines in ALM and TBLM were statistically significant only in prediabetic, but not among normal glycemic or diabetic men. Conclusion: Higher endogenous vitamin D concentrations are associated with less lean mass loss with aging among older and prediabetic Afro-Caribbean men independent of potential confounders. Our findings raise a possibility that maintaining high serum vitamin D level might be important for musculoskeletal health in elderly and prediabetic African ancestry men.

Usefulness of Vitamin D Deficiency Questionnaire for Japanese (VDDQ-J) for Screening of Vitamin D Deficiency and Low Muscle Mass in Relatively Healthy Japanese Anti-Aging Health Checkup Examinees

“…The absence of vitamin D signaling negatively impacts skeletal muscle, the physiological role of which has directly been proven using vitamin D receptor knockout mice (31), including various types of conditional vitamin D receptor knockouts (14,32,33). In humans, evidence suggests that low serum 25(OH)D concentrations are associated with low muscle mass, low muscle strength and a high risk of sarcopenia (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). In our univariate analysis, both low 25(OH)D levels and high VDDQ-J scores were significantly associated with low muscle mass, and only the VDDQ-J score showed a significantly negative association with grip strength.…”

“…Since vitamin D deficiency is a modifiable risk factor for aging-related chronic diseases (3)(4)(5), there is an urgent social need to identify individuals at high risk for vitamin D deficiency and body composition abnormalities, including sarcopenia and obesity. The effect of hypovitaminosis D on muscle mass and/or muscle strength has been investigated in elderly people, as well as in the general popula-tion (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Evidence suggests that low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations are associated with low muscle mass, low muscle strength, and a high risk of sarcopenia after adjustment for various confounding factors by multivariate analyses (13,14).…”

Dietary intake patterns, nutrient adequacy and associated factors in a multi-ethnic Caribbean population

“…Such low intakes have been noted in other Caribbean populations (Vearing et al, 2021). The hormonal nature of vitamin D means that low levels of this vitamin may have other health implications beyond bone loss and may require dietary supplementation, especially among the elderly, persons with chronic NCDs and those with darker skin pigmentations (Hall et al, 2010; Hwang et al, 2019).…”

Pathogenesis and comprehensive treatment strategies of sarcopenia in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

“…Chan et al.’s study noted that expanding nutritional counseling for people with diabetes and effectively reduce the incidence of sarcopenia ( 108 ). Several studies demonstrate that diet is no obvious evident benefit for elderly with diabetes and sarcopenia ( 102 , 103 , 109 ). However, the majorities of studies have consistently shown the positive effects of diet and nutrition intervention in the prevention and control of sarcopenia ( 110 – 119 ).…”