Is it reasonable to ignore vitamin D status for musculoskeletal health?

Rebecca S Mason; Mark S Rybchyn; Tara C Brennan-Speranza; David R Fraser

doi:10.12703/r/9-19

Is it reasonable to ignore vitamin D status for musculoskeletal health?

Fac Rev. 2020 Dec 3:9:19. doi: 10.12703/r/9-19. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Rebecca S Mason¹, Mark S Rybchyn¹, Tara C Brennan-Speranza^{1

2}, David R Fraser³

Affiliations

¹ Physiology, Bosch Institute, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
² School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
³ Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

PMID: 33659951
PMCID: PMC7886074
DOI: 10.12703/r/9-19

Abstract

Severe vitamin D deficiency-25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations below around 25-30 nmol/L-may lead to growth plate disorganization and mineralization abnormalities in children (rickets) and mineralization defects throughout the skeleton (osteomalacia) and proximal muscle weakness. Both problems are reversed with vitamin D treatment. Apart from this musculoskeletal dysfunction at very low vitamin D levels, there is apparent inconsistency in the available data about whether concentrations of 25OHD below around 50 nmol/L cause muscle function impairment and increase the risk of fracture. This narrative review provides evidence to support the contention that improving vitamin D status, up to around 50 nmol/L, plays a small causal role in optimizing bone and muscle function as well as reducing overall mortality.

Keywords: 25-hydroxyvitamin D; Vitamin D status; bone; calcium; muscle; parathyroid hormone; phosphate.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by a grant from the Australian Research Council DP170104408.