Low Vitamin D Levels and Frailty Status in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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#aged #aged-80-and-over #cross-sectional-studies #elder-nutritional-physiological-phenomena #female

Low Vitamin D Levels and Frailty Status in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Marcos-Pérez et al., 2020 | Nutrients | Meta Analysis

Citation

Marcos-Pérez Diego, Sánchez-Flores María, ... Laffon Blanca. Low Vitamin D Levels and Frailty Status in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2020-Jul-30;12(8). doi:10.3390/nu12082286

Abstract

Serum vitamin D deficiency is widespread among older adults and is a potential modifiable risk factor for frailty. Moreover, frailty has been suggested as an intermediate step in the association between low levels of vitamin D and mortality. Hence, we conducted a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis to test the possible association of low concentrations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), a marker of vitamin D status, with frailty in later life. We reviewed cross-sectional or longitudinal studies evaluating populations of older adults and identifying frailty by a currently validated scale. Meta-analyses were restricted to cross-sectional data from studies using Fried's phenotype to identify frailty. Twenty-six studies were considered in the qualitative synthesis, and thirteen studies were included in the meta-analyses. Quantitative analyses showed significant differences in the comparisons of frail (standardized mean difference (SMD)-1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) (-2.47, -0.15), p = 0.0271) and pre-frail (SMD-0.79, 95% CI (-1.58, -0.003), p = 0.0491) subjects vs. non-frail subjects. Sensitivity analyses reduced heterogeneity, resulting in a smaller but still highly significant between-groups difference. Results obtained indicate that lower 25(OH)D levels are significantly associated with increasing frailty severity. Future challenges include interventional studies testing the possible benefits of vitamin D supplementation in older adults to prevent/palliate frailty and its associated outcomes.

Key Findings

Future challenges include interventional studies testing the possible benefits of vitamin D supplementation in older adults to prevent/palliate frailty and its associated outcomes.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population older adults
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition deficiency

MeSH Terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Elder Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Female
  • Frail Elderly
  • Frailty
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Nutritional Status
  • Risk Factors
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D Deficiency

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-d

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09