(12-10-14) Association between vitamin D status and physical function in the severely

Ahern T1, Khattak A, O'Malley E, Dunlevy C, Kilbane M, Woods C, McKenna MJ,
O'Shea D.
Author information

Abstract
CONTEXT:
Mortality is 85% higher in severely obese subjects (body mass index [BMI] > 40
kg/m(2)) than in subjects with a healthy BMI; poor physical function may be
contributory. Hypovitaminosis D is common in obese subjects and is associated
with physical dysfunction in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE:
We determined the relationship between vitamin D status and physical function
in severely obese subjects.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS:
We conducted a clinic-based, cross-sectional study of severely obese subjects.
Participants were stratified into three groups according to the Institute of
Medicine (IOM) vitamin D status categorization.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
We compared levels of self-reported activity and times taken to walk 500 m and
to ascend and descend a 17-cm step 50 times.
RESULTS:
We recruited 252 subjects (age, 43.7 ± 11.2 y; BMI, 50.7 ± 9.7 kg/m(2)); 25-
hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations were less than 30 nmol/L in 109
participants. Participants with a 25OHD > 50 nmol/L, compared to those with a
25OHD < 30 nmol/L, had the highest activity levels (3.1 ± 3.4 h/wk versus 1.5 ±
2.5 h/wk; P = .015) and the shortest 500-m walk times (6.2 ± 1.1 min versus 7.4
± 1.5 min; P = .003). Serum 25OHD concentrations had a weakly positive
association with activity level (r = 0.19; P = .008) and a moderately negative
association with 500-m walk time (r = -0.343; P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS:
Vitamin D status had a significant relationship with physical activity and
physical function in this cohort of severely obese subjects. Low activity
levels are likely to perpetuate the problem of hypovitaminosis D due to less
time spent outdoors. Studies exploring the effects of vitamin D supplementation
in this population are warranted.

Source: J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Jul;99(7):E1327-31. doi: 10.1210/jc.2014-1704.
Epub 2014 Apr 15.

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