Bone Abstracts

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fitness program with vitamin D supplementation for biochemistry related to vitamin D, muscle mass and physical functions in elderly women.

The subjects were elderly women aged 65 or older, regularly visiting a senior welfare center and a senior citizen center in city. A total of 65 subjects were divided into experimental group (n=34) and control group (n=31). The intervention for the experimental group consists of fitness program with vitamin D supplementation (1000 IU/day) for 12 weeks. The one for the control group consists of solely fitness program. Both groups were measured twice, before the intervention and after the intervention for 12 weeks. All the subjects answered questionnaires to verify general characteristics, health-related characteristics and vitamin D-related characteristics. Also, estimated were biochemistry related to vitamin D, muscle mass and physical functions of all the subjects.

Differences of muscle strength between groups after the intervention were significant in grasping power test and sit to stand test. After the intervention, the results of timed up and go test of the experimental group were significantly improved. Differences of abilities for semi tandem stance, tandem stance and side by side stance between groups after the intervention were significant, while the ability for standing on one leg had no significant difference. Differences of usual gate speed between groups after the intervention were significant.

In this study, fitness program with vitamin D supplementation for 12 weeks was proven to be positively effective in improving biochemistry related to vitamin D, muscle mass and physical functions for elderly women. Also, it is reconfirmed that vitamin D is essential for the improvement of muscle and body function of elderly women.