Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Frailty and Kidney Disease pp 105–120Cite as

Vitamin D and Frailty

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

Vitamin D is well known to have important and far-reaching effects across all aspects of physiology. It is particularly significant in the geriatric syndrome of frailty, as it has notable impacts on a number of systems that are critical to its development. This is also noteworthy when applied to the patient with kidney disease, as ongoing renal dysfunction reduces active vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency has a range of clinical manifestations, including bone fragility, decreased muscle performance, and cognitive impairment. There is some preliminary evidence to suggest that daily supplementation of up to 1000 IU of vitamin D has beneficial outcomes as an adjunctive treatment for frailty.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Bouillon R, Okamura WH, Norman AW. Structure-function relationships in the vitamin D endocrine system*. Endocr Rev. 1995;16(2):200–57.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Holick MF. Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;80(6):1678S–88S.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Norman AW. From vitamin D to hormone D: fundamentals of the vitamin D endocrine system essential for good health. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;88(2):491S–9S.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Nigwekar SU, Bhan I, Thadhani R. Ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol in CKD. Am J Kidney Dis. 2012;60(1):139–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Holick M, Frommer J, McNeill S, Richtand N, Henley J, Potts J Jr. Photometabolism of 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3 in skin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1977;76(1):107–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Norman AW. Sunlight, season, skin pigmentation, vitamin D, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D: integral components of the vitamin D endocrine system. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998;67(6):1108–10. Oxford University Press.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Ponchon G, Kennan A, DeLuca H. “Activation” of vitamin D by the liver. J Clin Invest. 1969;48(11):2032–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Jetter A, Egli A, Dawson-Hughes B, Staehelin HB, Stoecklin E, Goessl R, et al. Pharmacokinetics of oral vitamin D3 and calcifediol. Bone. 2014;59:14–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Dusso A, González EA, Martin KJ. Vitamin D in chronic kidney disease. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;25(4):647–55.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Levine B, Singer F, Bryce G, Mallon J, Miller O, Coburn J. Pharmacokinetics and biologic effects of calcitriol in normal humans. J Lab Clin Med. 1985;105(2):234–8.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Huang JC, Sakata T, Pfleger LL, Bencsik M, Halloran BP, Bikle DD, et al. PTH differentially regulates expression of RANKL and OPG. J Bone Miner Res. 2004;19(2):235–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Henry HL. Regulation of vitamin D metabolism. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;25(4):531–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Naveh-Many T, Silver J. Regulation of calcitonin gene transcription by vitamin D metabolites in vivo in the rat. J Clin Invest. 1988;81(1):270–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Pike JW, Meyer MB. The vitamin D receptor: new paradigms for the regulation of gene expression by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3). Endocrinol Metab Clin N Am. 2010;39(2):255–69.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kongsbak M, Levring T, Geisler C, von Essen M. The vitamin D receptor and T cell function. Front Immunol. 2013;4:148.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Xue Y, Fleet JC. Intestinal vitamin D receptor is required for normal calcium and bone metabolism in mice. Gastroenterology. 2009;136(4):1317–27.e2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Johnson JA, Kumar R. Vitamin D and renal calcium transport. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens. 1994;3(4):424–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kitazawa S, Kajimoto K, Kondo T, Kitazawa R. Vitamin D3 supports osteoclastogenesis via functional vitamin D response element of human RANKL gene promoter. J Cell Biochem. 2003;89(4):771–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Liu W, Zhang L, Xu H-J, Li Y, Hu C-M, Yang J-Y, et al. The anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D in tumorigenesis. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(9):2736.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Ajabshir S, Asif A, Nayer A. The effects of vitamin D on the renin-angiotensin system. J Nephropathol. 2014;3(2):41–3.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Al-Badr W, Martin KJ. Vitamin D and kidney disease. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008;3(5):1555–60.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Lips P, van Schoor NM. The effect of vitamin D on bone and osteoporosis. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;25(4):585–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Laird E, Ward M, McSorley E, Strain JJ, Wallace J. Vitamin D and bone health: potential mechanisms. Nutrients. 2010;2(7):693–724.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Murthy L, Dreyer P, Suriyaarachchi P, Gomez F, Curcio CL, Boersma D, et al. Association between high levels of parathyroid hormone and frailty: the Nepean Osteoporosis and Frailty (NOF) Study. J Frailty Aging. 2018;7(4):253–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Holick MF. Vitamin D status: measurement, interpretation, and clinical application. Ann Epidemiol. 2009;19(2):73–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Gordon CM, Hanley DA, Heaney RP, et al. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(7):1911–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Amrein K, Scherkl M, Hoffmann M, Neuwersch-Sommeregger S, Kostenberger M, Tmava Berisha A, et al. Vitamin D deficiency 2.0: an update on the current status worldwide. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2020; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-0558-y.

  28. Thacher TD, Clarke BL. Vitamin D insufficiency. Mayo Clin Proc. 2011;86(1):50–60.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Wei J, Zhu A, Ji JS. A comparison study of vitamin D deficiency among older adults in China and the United States. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):19713.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Cashman KD, Dowling KG, Skrabakova Z, Gonzalez-Gross M, Valtuena J, De Henauw S, et al. Vitamin D deficiency in Europe: pandemic? Am J Clin Nutr. 2016;103(4):1033–44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Laird E, O’Halloran AM, Carey D, Healy M, O’Connor D, Moore P, et al. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and the determinants of 25(OH)D concentration in older Irish adults: data from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing (TILDA). J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2018;73(4):519–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Lee MJ, Hsu HJ, Wu IW, Sun CY, Ting MK, Lee CC. Vitamin D deficiency in northern Taiwan: a community-based cohort study. BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):337.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Kim J, Lee Y, Won CW, Kye S, Shim JS. Association of serum vitamin D with frailty in older Korean adults. Maturitas. 2020;134:15–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Shardell M, Hicks GE, Miller RR, Kritchevsky S, Andersen D, Bandinelli S, et al. Association of low vitamin D levels with the frailty syndrome in men and women. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2009;64(1):69–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Buchebner D, Bartosch P, Malmgren L, McGuigan FE, Gerdhem P, Akesson KE. Association between vitamin D, frailty, and progression of frailty in community-dwelling older women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(12):6139–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Sousa-Santos AR, Afonso C, Santos A, Borges N, Moreira P, Padrao P, et al. The association between 25(OH)D levels, frailty status and obesity indices in older adults. PLoS One. 2018;13(8):e0198650.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Buckinx F, Rolland Y, Reginster JY, Ricour C, Petermans J, Bruyere O. Burden of frailty in the elderly population: perspectives for a public health challenge. Arch Public Health. 2015;73(1):19.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Feng Z, Lugtenberg M, Franse C, Fang X, Hu S, Jin C, et al. Risk factors and protective factors associated with incident or increase of frailty among community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review of longitudinal studies. PLoS One. 2017;12(6):e0178383.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Hill TR, Aspray TJ. The role of vitamin D in maintaining bone health in older people. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2017;9(4):89–95.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Kuchuk NO, Pluijm SM, van Schoor NM, Looman CW, Smit JH, Lips P. Relationships of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D to bone mineral density and serum parathyroid hormone and markers of bone turnover in older persons. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009;94(4):1244–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Van Schoor NM, Heymans MW, Lips P. Vitamin D status in relation to physical performance, falls and fractures in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam: a reanalysis of previous findings using standardized serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D values. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2018;177:255–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Yoshimura N, Muraki S, Oka H, Iidaka T, Kodama R, Horii C, et al. Do sarcopenia and/or osteoporosis increase the risk of frailty? A 4-year observation of the second and third ROAD study surveys. Osteoporos Int. 2018;29(10):2181–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Houston DK, Cesari M, Ferrucci L, Cherubini A, Maggio D, Bartali B, et al. Association between vitamin D status and physical performance: the InCHIANTI study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2007;62(4):440–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Aspell N, Laird E, Healy M, Lawlor B, O’Sullivan M. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with impaired muscle strength and physical performance in community-dwelling older adults: findings from the English longitudinal study of ageing. Clin Interv Aging. 2019;14:1751–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Wicherts IS, van Schoor NM, Boeke AJ, Visser M, Deeg DJ, Smit J, et al. Vitamin D status predicts physical performance and its decline in older persons. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92(6):2058–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Fritz S, Lusardi M. White paper: “walking speed: the sixth vital sign”. J Geriatr Phys Ther. 2009;32(2):46–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Annweiler C, Henni S, Walrand S, Montero-Odasso M, Duque G, Duval GT. Vitamin D and walking speed in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. Maturitas. 2017;106:8–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Boersma D, Demontiero O, Mohtasham Amiri Z, Hassan S, Suarez H, Geisinger D, et al. Vitamin D status in relation to postural stability in the elderly. J Nutr Health Aging. 2012;16(3):270–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Akdeniz S, Hepguler S, Ozturk C, Atamaz FC. The relation between vitamin D and postural balance according to clinical tests and tetrax posturography. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(4):1272–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Tieland M, Brouwer-Brolsma EM, Nienaber-Rousseau C, van Loon LJ, De Groot LC. Low vitamin D status is associated with reduced muscle mass and impaired physical performance in frail elderly people. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013;67(10):1050–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, Boirie Y, Bruyere O, Cederholm T, et al. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2019;48(1):16–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Yeung SSY, Reijnierse EM, Pham VK, Trappenburg MC, Lim WK, Meskers CGM, et al. Sarcopenia and its association with falls and fractures in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2019;10(3):485–500.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  53. Cesari M, Landi F, Vellas B, Bernabei R, Marzetti E. Sarcopenia and physical frailty: two sides of the same coin. Front Aging Neurosci. 2014;6:192.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Llewellyn DJ, Lang IA, Langa KM, Melzer D. Vitamin D and cognitive impairment in the elderly U.S. population. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2011;66(1):59–65.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Balion C, Griffith LE, Strifler L, Henderson M, Patterson C, Heckman G, et al. Vitamin D, cognition, and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurology. 2012;79(13):1397–405.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  56. Moon JH, Lim S, Han JW, Kim KM, Choi SH, Kim KW, et al. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and the risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia: the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging (KLoSHA). Clin Endocrinol. 2015;83(1):36–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Lee DH, Chon J, Kim Y, Seo YK, Park EJ, Won CW, et al. Association between vitamin D deficiency and cognitive function in the elderly Korean population: a Korean frailty and aging cohort study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(8):e19293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Ju SY, Lee JY, Kim DH. Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the risk of frailty syndrome: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. BMC Geriatr. 2018;18(1):206.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Bolzetta F, Veronese N, Stubbs B, Noale M, Vaona A, Demurtas J, et al. The relationship between dietary vitamin K and depressive symptoms in late adulthood: a cross-sectional analysis from a large cohort study. Nutrients. 2019;11(4):787.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Muir SW, Montero-Odasso M. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on muscle strength, gait and balance in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011;59(12):2291–300.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Stockton KA, Mengersen K, Paratz JD, Kandiah D, Bennell KL. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on muscle strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Osteoporos Int. 2011;22(3):859–71.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Antoniak AE, Greig CA. The effect of combined resistance exercise training and vitamin D3 supplementation on musculoskeletal health and function in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2017;7(7):e014619.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  63. Verlaan S, Maier AB, Bauer JM, Bautmans I, Brandt K, Donini LM, et al. Sufficient levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and protein intake required to increase muscle mass in sarcopenic older adults – the PROVIDE study. Clin Nutr. 2018;37(2):551–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Gillespie LD, Robertson MC, Gillespie WJ, Sherrington C, Gates S, Clemson LM, et al. Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(9):CD007146.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Dawson-Hughes B, Staehelin HB, Orav JE, Stuck AE, Theiler R, et al. Fall prevention with supplemental and active forms of vitamin D: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. 2009;339:b3692.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  66. Kahwati LC, Weber RP, Pan H, Gourlay M, LeBlanc E, Coker-Schwimmer M, et al. Vitamin D, calcium, or combined supplementation for the primary prevention of fractures in community-dwelling adults: evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA. 2018;319(15):1600–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Willett WC, Wong JB, Giovannucci E, Dietrich T, Dawson-Hughes B. Fracture prevention with vitamin D supplementation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. JAMA. 2005;293(18):2257–64.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Sanders KM, Stuart AL, Williamson EJ, Simpson JA, Kotowicz MA, Young D, et al. Annual high-dose oral vitamin D and falls and fractures in older women: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2010;303(18):1815–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), The University of Melbourne and Western Health, St. Albans, VIC, Australia

    Jack Feehan & Gustavo Duque

  2. Department of Medicine-Western Health, The University of Melbourne, St. Albans, VIC, Australia

    Jack Feehan, Steven Phu & Gustavo Duque

  3. Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Steven Phu

Authors
  1. Jack Feehan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Steven Phu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gustavo Duque
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gustavo Duque .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Carlos Guido Musso

  2. Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    José Ricardo Jauregui

  3. University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

    Juan Florencio Macías-Núñez

  4. Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine, Iasi, Romania

    Adrian Covic

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Feehan, J., Phu, S., Duque, G. (2021). Vitamin D and Frailty. In: Musso, C.G., Jauregui, J.R., Macías-Núñez, J.F., Covic, A. (eds) Frailty and Kidney Disease. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53529-2_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53529-2_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-53528-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-53529-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation