| Theme |
Muscle and exercise physiology on mineral metabolism |
| Title |
The importance of vitamin D in muscle strength and fall preventionm |
| Author |
Kiyoshi Tanaka |
Faculty of Nutrition, Kobe Gakuin University |
| Author |
Misora Ao |
Department of Food and Nutrition, Graduate School of Home Economics, Kyoto Women's University |
| Author |
Akiko Kuwabara |
College of Health and Human Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University |
| [ Summary ] |
Vitamin deficiency causes such diseases as beriberi and rickets. Recently, vitamin insufficiency, which is milder than deficiency, is known to be a risk for various diseases. Also, vitamin D has been reported to exert its action in the muscle in addition to bone and calcium homeostasis. Cohort studies, including one from Japan, have shown that vitamin D insufficiency is a risk for decreased muscle strength and falls. Intervention studies and meta-analyses, although limited to ones from abroad, have demonstrated that vitamin D intervention decreases the risk of falling. Of note, such effects are greater in subjects with vitamin D insufficiency. Non-vertebral osteoporotic fractures often occur after falling and vitamin D effects in muscle are of great clinical importance. |