Association Between Dysmobility Syndrome with Serum Vitamin D in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between serum vitamin D levels and dysmobility syndrome (DMS) in community-dwelling older adults.METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 390 older adults (80.7% female) with a mean (±SD) age of 74.8±5.5 years. Based on high body fat level, osteoporosis, low muscle mass, slow gait speed, low grip strength, and fall(s), participants were classified as robust, pre-DMS, or DMS. Based on serum vitamin D levels, subjects were classified as high 33%, middle 33%, and lower 33%, and/or ≥20 ng/mL and <20 ng/mL, respectively. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine odds ratios (OR) for serum vitamin D levels in DMS.RESULTS: There were linear increases in DMS variables such as high body fat (p = .040), slow gait speed (p = .048), fall(s) (p = .005), and prevalence of DMS (p = .001) across decremental serum vitamin D levels. Compared with the high vitamin D group (as reference), the low 33% group exhibited a higher OR for DMS (OR 2.776, p = .02). Similarly, compared with the vitamin D ≥20 ng/mL group (as reference), the <20 ng/mL group had a higher OR for DMS (OR 2.486, p = .002).CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study suggest higher serum vitamin D levels through promoting outdoor physical activity and a healthy diet are key components protecting older adults against DMS.