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Low vitamin D linked to loss of mobility in seniors

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

Older adults may benefit from blood testing to measure vitamin D levels, as new evidence suggests that individuals who have low levels of the nutrient may face an increased risk of developing mobility problems.

Many seniors start to have a difficult time getting around and performing day to day tasks as they age. This is a major cause of loss of independence. Helping older adults maintain their mobility as they age is major priority.

For the study, researchers from the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center tracked the health of about 3,000 seniors over the course of a six-year period. The team administered blood tests at the beginning of the study to take baseline measurements of vitamin D levels.

The results showed that participants who began the study with the lowest vitamin D levels were 30 percent more likely to develop mobility issues during the study period than those who had adequate levels.

The findings suggest that seniors should make efforts to boost their vitamin D levels, but the researchers admitted that this may be difficult. It can be hard to consume the nutrient through diet and many older people do not spend much time outside in the sun, which boosts levels of the nutrient.