Relationship between balance, physical performance and quality of life with vitamin D levels in the elderly

Abstract

Introduction: To determine the relationship between vitamin-D (vitD) levels and balance, fall risk, functional mobility, lower extremity neuromuscular function and quality-of-life and to examine short-term effects of vitD replacement in the elderly. Materials and Method: 100 people 65 years and older, who were able to communicate and stand independently were included in the study. They were grouped according to serum 25- hydroxy-vitD levels as low (<20ng/ml) or normal (?20ng/ml) vitD levels. The two groups were compared for balance and fall risk; with posturography and Berg balance scale (BBS), functional mobility;with Timed-Up and Go Test (TUG), lower extremity neuromuscular function; with Chair Stand Test (CST) and quality-of-life; with Short-Form-36 (SF-36). 150.000 units of cholecalciferol was administered orally to vitD deficient group and the parameters were reevaluated after one month. Results: Vitamin D levels were measured as low in 78 and as normal in 22 of the 100 subjects. Body mass index, parathormone (PTH) levels and mean TUG scores were higher in vitD deficient group while mean score of CST was lower (p<0.05). After replacement therapy, there was a significant decrease in fall risk, PTH levels and TUG scores and a significant increase was found in BBS scores and physical function and physical role subgroup scores of SF-36 in the vitD deficient group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is highly encountered among people 65 years and older. Replacement therapy could be effective in improvement of balance, functional mobility, lower extremity neuromuscular function and quality-of-life related with physical functions for people with low vitD levels.