Vitamin D Supplementation and Physical Performance

In a recently published randomized trial, 260 U.S. black women (age, >60) with mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level of 22 ng/mL were randomized to receive supplemental vitamin D — dosed to achieve levels ≥30 ng/mL — or placebo. At 3 years, bone density had not improved with supplementation compared with placebo, even though the mean 25(OH)D level had increased to 47 ng/mL in the vitamin D group and was unchanged in the placebo group (NEJM JW Gen Med Mar 1 2019 and J Bone Miner Res 2018; 33:1916, and J Am Geriatr Soc 2019; 67:81).

Now, these researchers report the effect of vitamin D supplementation on physical performance in this study. Every 6 months during the trial, participants underwent a physical performance battery (assessing bala…