Vitamin D, muscle function, and adolescent girls
 The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between vitamin D blood levels [25(OH)D] and parathyroid hormone (PTH) vs muscle power and force in girls attending secondary schools.
First, the details.
- 99 girls, 12- to 14-years-old, participated.
- A series of studies to measure muscle power, velocity, and jump height was performed.
- The Esslinger Fitness Index (efficiency and asymmetry of movement, and maximum voluntary force of each leg) was recorded.
- Body height, weight, and blood levels of 25(OH)D and PTH were measured.
And, the results.
- After correction for weight, higher 25(OH)D levels were associated with significantly greater jump velocity, jump height, power, Esslinger Fitness Index, and force.
- Higher PTH was associated with significantly weaker jump velocity.
- When people are vitamin D deficient, the PTH levels increase.
The bottom line?
The authors, who were from the University of Manchester, in the UK concluded, “Vitamin D was significantly associated with muscle power and force in adolescent girls.”
4/9/09 22:37 JR