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misc/arrow-dots-black Wetenschapmisc/arrow-dots-blackVitamin D-supplementation in home-dwelling older people and the association with frailty. The ConsuMEER study.

Vitamin D-supplementation in home-dwelling older people and the association with frailty. The ConsuMEER study.

Authors
dr. Janne Beelen, Joline van de Wier, Sharon Reimert, dr. Joost Linschooten, dr. Annet Roodenburg, prof. dr. Marian de van der Schueren
JournalNederlands Tijdschrift voor Voeding & Diëtetiek , Volume 72 , Issue 6
Publication22/01/2018
Afbeelding voor Vitamin D-supplementation in home-dwelling older people and the association with frailty. The ConsuMEER study.

Aim

This study measured the use of vitamin D supplements among community-dwelling older adults of 70 years and older, and compared this with the vitamin D supplement use in the Dutch Food Consumption Survey among older adults in 2010-2012 (VCP70+). A secondary aim was to study the association between frailty and adhering to guidelines for vitamin D supplementation.

Methods

For this cross-sectional sub study baseline measurements of 94 community-dwelling older adults (70+), who all participated in a randomized controlled trial, were used. The use of vitamin D containing supplements was recorded and categorized as ‘sufficient’ (according to Dutch guidelines, ?20 µg/day), ‘insufficient’ (<20 µg/day) or ‘not at all’. Frailty was evaluated by the ‘Fried frailty criteria’: a participant was categorized as ‘frail’ when 3 of the criteria were scored, and as ‘pre-frail’ when 1 or 2 of the criteria were scored. Differences in supplement use with the VCP70+ were tested with binomial tests; Fisher’s exact test was used to test the association between frailty and vitamin D supplementation.

Results

The percentage of community-dwelling older adults (mean age 80.8 years, 61.7% female) that supplemented vitamin D in accordance with the guidelines (?20 µg/day) was 51,1% (men 44,4%, women 55,2%); this was significantly higher than supplement use among the VCP70+ population (23%, p<0.001). Seven participants were categorized as ‘frail’ and 42 as ‘pre-frail’. There was no difference in supplement use according to guidelines between the three frailty categories (p=0.387).

Discussion and conclusion

Guidelines for vitamin D supplementation for adults of 70 years and older are still insufficiently met, also by more frail community-dwelling older adults. Attention to adequate vitamin D supplementation remains important. For the next VCP it is recommended to also include more vulnerable older adults.

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