Beware men! Low level of Vitamin D may worsen frailty

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London: A new study has claims that middle-age-men with low levels of Vitamin D are more likely to have poor muscle mass and strength, causing frailty. So, they should include Vitamin D in their daily diet to boosts their muscle mass and strength.

Frailty is the gradual loss of energy, strength and physical capability that can come with ageing and often leads to dependency, disability and death.

The study has showed that having lower levels of vitamin D, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and its binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) were associated with a higher risk of frailty.

lLead author Agnieszka Swiecicka, research student at the University of Manchester said,"With the ageing population, frailty-related problems present an increasing challenge to healthcare systems worldwide".

Swiecicka added, "Vitamin D, besides maintaining bone health, regulates muscle function and low vitamin D levels are linked to lower muscle mass and strength. IGF-1 affects muscle growth and repair and its action and levels are modified by its carrier protein IGFBP3."

The results were presented at the Endocrine Society's 99th annual meeting ENDO 2017 in Orlando.

Further, men with low levels of anabolic hormone -- muscle- and bone-building hormone -- were found to have higher levels of frailty.

In addition, elderly men with lower levels of the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) -- which has direct anabolic effect on muscle mass -- were linked to a higher likelihood of worsening frailty.

Swiecicka said, "We showed novel associations between anabolic hormone levels and changes in frailty levels in ageing men, which could enable early identification of at-risk individuals and the development of new treatments and prevention strategies".

However, "this does not establish cause, and clinical trials will be required to find out if giving these hormones to middle-age and elderly men could prevent the development of frailty", she added.

(With IANS inputs)