Exercise combined with vitamin D supplementation has additive health effects on short physical performance battery and stair climbing in older adults: a scope review of randomised controlled trials.

Abstract

This scoping review aimed to evaluate the effect of exercise combined with vitamin D supplementation on skeletal muscle health in older individuals. We implemented a systematic search of electronic databases, including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase, which was conducted from the time of library construction to January 2024. Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials including men and women aged ≥ 65 years or mean age ≥ 65 years; exercise training and vitamin D supplementation; outcomes of muscular strength, function, muscular power, body composition and quality of life; and results compared with those of exercise intervention alone. The results showed thirteen studies including 1483 participants were identified. The proportions of male and female sex were 22·05 and 77·95 %, respectively. Exercise intervention methods included resistance exercises and multimodal exercise training. All vitamin D interventions involved supplementation with vitamin D₃. A significant increase was identified in short physical performance battery and stair climbing but not in skeletal muscle mass, skeletal strength, the timed up and go test and gait speed in older adults after exercise combined with vitamin D supplementation. In conclusion, exercise combined with vitamin D supplementation has additive health effects on short physical performance battery and stair climbing. Furthermore, when vitamin D was deficient at baseline, the combined effect of exercise and vitamin D intervention significantly increased the timed up and go test and gait speed in older adults. In future randomised controlled trials on this topic, baseline vitamin D nutritional status, health condition and sex should be considered.