P267 Muscle strength and physical performance in patients with vitamin D deficiency

Background. Many observational studies and some clinical trials suggested a role of vitamin D counteracting bone and muscle loss in aging. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) seem to be associated to muscle strength and physical performance. The aim of our study was to compare physical performance and muscle strength in subjects with different serum levels of vitamin D. Materials and methods. We compared 40 patients with vitamin D deficiency (25 OHD <30 ng/ml) to 37 subjects with normal serum levels of 25 OHD (>30 ng/ml). The muscle strength and muscle performance were, respectively, assessed with the Jamar handheld dynamometer and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Results. Results are showed in table. Parameters Vitamin D deficiency subjects (n=40) Normal subjects (n=37) p-value Age (years) 66.9 ± 7.27 67.54 ± 8.29 NS Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m2) 25.37 ± 3.59 25.72 ± 3.25 NS HGS (kg) 12.81 ± 5.10 15.70 ± 6.89 0.038 Gait speed <1 m/s: 25/40 (62.5%) >1m/s: 15/40 (37.5%) <1m/s: 20/37 (54.1%) >1 m/s: 17/37 (45.9%) NS SPPB score <8: 17/40 (42.5%) >8: 23/40 (57.5%) <8: 10/37 (27%) >8: 20/37 (73%) NS Conclusions. Subjects with hypovitaminosis resulted to have a significant reduction in muscle strength but not in physical performance.