The purpose of this study is to see if vitamin D supplementation improves muscle function in older adults.
This study is a 12-month, double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial in older (65-89 yrs) men and women with initial 25(OH)D concentrations of 18-\<30 ng/mL to determine the effect of increasing 25(OH)D concentrations to ≥30 ng/mL through vitamin D3 supplementation on 1) change in neuromuscular functions that are established risk-factors for falls in older adults; and 2) changes in the underlying physiological mechanisms over 4 months in a subset of randomly selected participants. Participants will be randomized to 2000 IU/d of vitamin D3 or placebo. Lower extremity muscle strength and power, physical performance, and postural sway will be assessed at baseline, 4 months and 12 months and falls assessed monthly. Muscle biopsies of the vastus lateralis will be taken at baseline and 4 months to assess muscle fiber type, contractility, and denervation, and number and differentiation stage of satellite cells.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
136
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Change in Lower Extremity Muscle Power Over 12 Months
Lower extremity muscle power will be measured at baseline, 4- and 12-month follow-up using the Nottingham Power Rig. Participants sit in a chair and unilaterally depress a foot lever attached to a flywheel as hard and as fast as they can. Power output, derived from the acceleration of the flywheel from 5 trials on each leg at maximal effort, will be recorded in Watts. Maximum leg power at baseline (from either the right or left leg) and the maximum power from the same leg at 4- and 12-month follow-up will be used in all analyses. Leg power (Watts) will be standardized to total body mass (in Kg).
Time frame: change from baseline at 12 month follow-up reported
Change in Percentage of Type II (Fast-twitch) Muscle Fibers Over 4 Months
This will be examined in muscle biopsies collected at baseline and 4-month follow-up using the ATPase, pH 9.4 technique, combined with laminin immunostaining in 10 micrometer muscle sections and the number of type I and type II fiber subtypes quantified. The percentage of type II fibers is calculated by dividing the number of type II fibers by the sum of type I and type II fibers combined.
Time frame: over 4 months of follow-up
Change in Lower Extremity Muscle Strength Over 12 Months
Lower extremity muscle strength will be measured using an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex) at one speed (60°/sec) with the participant sitting and the hips and knee flexed at 90°. Participants extend the knee and push as hard as possible against the resistance pad. Strength is expressed as peak torque in Newton-meters (Nm). The maximum knee extensor strength of the 4 repetitions from trial 2 for the dominant leg will be will be used in analyses unless unable to test the dominant leg (i.e., knee replacement) in which case the non-dominant leg will be used; the maximum knee extensor strength from the same leg will be used at 4- and 12-month follow-up for all analyses.
Time frame: change from baseline at 12 month follow-up reported
Change in the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) Score Over 12 Months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
The short physical performance battery consists of standing balance (side-by-side, semi- and full-tandem stands for 10 seconds), a 4-m walk to assess usual gait speed, and 5 repeated chair stands at baseline, 4-months and 12-months. Each of the three performance measures is assigned a score ranging from 0 (inability to perform the task) to 4 (the highest level of performance) and summed to create an SPPB score ranging from 0 to 12 (best).
Time frame: change from baseline at 12 month follow-up reported
Change in the Expanded Physical Performance Battery Score Over 12 Months
The expanded physical performance battery consists of standing balance (semi- and full-tandem stands and a single leg stand for 30 seconds), a 4-m walk to assess usual gait speed, a narrow 4-m walk test of balance (walking at usual pace within lines of tape spaced 20 cm apart), and 5 repeated chair stands at baseline, 4-months, and 12-months. Scores range from 0 to 4 with higher scores indicative of better physical performance.
Time frame: change from baseline at 12 month follow-up reported
Change in Timed Up and Go (TUG) Over 12 Months
The timed up and go will be measured by how long it takes (sec) to stand up from a chair, walk 3 m, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down at baseline, 4-months, and 12-months. Longer times to complete the TUG are indicative of greater fall risk.
Time frame: change from baseline at 12 month follow-up reported
Change in Average Sway Velocity Over 12 Months
Postural sway during quiet stance will be assessed from Center-of-Pressure (COP) trajectory data collected at 100 Hz using an Advanced Mechanical Technology Incorporated (AMTI) AccuSway biomechanics force platform at baseline, 4-months, and 12-months. Participants stand on the force platform barefoot in an upright stance with arms relaxed comfortably at their sides, eyes open, feet abducted 10 degrees, and heels separated medio-laterally by 6 cm. COP data is collected in a series of 10 30-sec trials standing on the force plate. Average sway velocity is measured in cm/sec. A higher number indicates more postural sway.
Time frame: change from baseline at 12 month follow-up reported
Change in 95% Confidence Ellipse Area Over 12 Months
Postural sway during quiet stance will be assessed from Center-of-Pressure (COP) trajectory data collected at 100 Hz using an Advanced Mechanical Technology Incorporated (AMTI) AccuSway biomechanics force platform at baseline, 4-months, and 12-month. Participants stand on the force platform barefoot in an upright stance with arms relaxed comfortably at their sides, eyes open, feet abducted 10 degrees, and heels separated medio-laterally by 6 cm. COP data is collected in a series of 10 30-sec trials standing on the force plate. 95% confidence ellipse area is measured in cm squared. A higher number indicates more postural sway.
Time frame: change from baseline at 12 month follow-up reported
Change in Maximum Anteroposterior (AP) Displacement Over 12 Months
Postural sway during quiet stance will be assessed from Center-of-Pressure (COP) trajectory data collected at 100 Hz using an Advanced Mechanical Technology Incorporated (AMTI) AccuSway biomechanics force platform at baseline, 4-months, and 12-months. Participants stand on the force platform barefoot in an upright stance with arms relaxed comfortably at their sides, eyes open, feet abducted 10 degrees, and heels separated medio-laterally by 6 cm. COP data is collected in a series of 10 30-sec trials standing on the force plate. Anteroposterior (AP) displacement is measured in cm. A higher number indicates more postural sway.
Time frame: change from baseline at 12 month follow-up reported
Change in Maximum Mediolateral (ML) Displacement Over 12 Months
Postural sway during quiet stance will be assessed from Center-of-Pressure (COP) trajectory data collected at 100 Hz using an Advanced Mechanical Technology Incorporated (AMTI) AccuSway biomechanics force platform at baseline, 4-months, and 12-months. Participants stand on the force platform barefoot in an upright stance with arms relaxed comfortably at their sides, eyes open, feet abducted 10 degrees, and heels separated medio-laterally by 6 cm. COP data is collected in a series of 10 30-sec trials standing on the force plate. Mediolateral (ML) displacement is measured in cm. A higher number indicates more postural sway.
Time frame: change from baseline at 12 month follow-up reported