The aging process brings about many changes to the human body. There are many lifestyle factors that can cause these changes to deteriorating muscle mass and strength, such as declining nutrition and health and decreased physical activity. The aging are not as able to produce as much 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin or accumulate as much body fat mass—which may diminish the amount of fat-soluble vitamin D in the body. Poor Vitamin D levels are prevalent in Chinese, American, and European men and women.
A study of 568 men and women ages 55 to 70 was conducted to over a six year time-span in order to gauge the association between low Vitamin D status and decreased muscle mass. The conclusion of the study showed that a low vitamin D status was linked with a loss of ASMM (appendicular skeletal muscle mass) in middle-aged and elderly Chinese men and women over the course of the six-year study, apart from conventional risk factors, as well as protein ingestion, signs of liver and kidney performance, inflammation, and bone mineral density.
According to resources, the initial cross-cultural studies show that elderly Dutch men had lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels than with elderly people in Australia or older Chinese men who reside in Hong Kong. Conflicting outcomes may be the result of distinct vitamin D levels as compared between the research populations, including amounts of protein consumption, social and cultural lifestyle, low sun exposure and dietary factors. Researchers compiled data by where the subjects lived and health history, which included chronic disease and lifestyle (smoking status, alcohol consumption, and exercise). Those diseases reported were such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and cancers.
Participants in the study were divided into four groups, depending on how many chronic diseases they had, and by exercise level, consumption of protein and energy, and a food consumption intake. After fasting over night, the participants had a thorough examination and plasma testing. A standardized questionnaire was completed on the subjects, comparing scores from 2005 and 2011.
The numbers were significantly different between men and women, but did confirm there was a decrease of muscle mass that accompanies low vitamin D levels after the six year difference in Chinese middle-aged and elderly men and women.
