CohortHumann = 1,292 (53% women)2025South Korea
Sex-specific associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations with incident sarcopenia in older adults: A 2-year follow-up study.
Plain-language summary
This study looked at whether vitamin D levels in the blood are linked to developing sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) in older adults. It followed 1,292 Korean adults aged 70-84 without sarcopenia at the start, measuring their vitamin D levels and tracking muscle mass, strength, and physical performance over two years. It found that men with lower vitamin D levels were more likely to develop sarcopenia, while women showed no clear link. Higher vitamin D was tied to better muscle mass in men and better physical performance in women, suggesting vitamin D may help slow muscle decline differently by sex.
Key findings
- Men with higher vitamin D levels had a lower risk of developing sarcopenia over two years.
- Women showed no significant link between vitamin D levels and sarcopenia risk.
- Higher vitamin D was tied to better muscle mass in men and better physical performance in women.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Cohort studies are good at tracking how factors like vitamin D relate to outcomes over time, but they cannot prove cause and effect.
- Population
- Older Korean adults (70-84 years), mostly women (53%).
- Funding
- Not reported
- Watch for
- This study found that older men with higher vitamin D levels were less likely to lose muscle over two years. If you are an older man, it may be worth checking your vitamin D and topping up if low, as it could help preserve muscle.