Crucial Role of Vitamin D in the Musculoskeletal System
Wintermeyer E, Ihle C, Ehnert S, Stöckle U, Ochs G, de Zwart P, Flesch I, Bahrs C, Nussler AK
Published in Nutrients
Abstract
Study examining vitamin D's dual role in maintaining bone health and supporting muscle function, including mechanisms at the cellular level.
Methodology
Narrative review of vitamin D metabolism and its effects on bone and muscle, covering deficiency prevalence, fracture healing and supplementation evidence.
Key Findings
Vitamin D is biologically inert until hydroxylated in liver and kidney to calcitriol, which drives intestinal calcium absorption and bone mineralisation. Deficiency causes rickets and osteomalacia and is associated with reduced muscle strength, impaired fracture healing and higher fall risk. The review reports benefit of correcting deficiency for bone healing and musculoskeletal function, and notes deficiency is highly prevalent in trauma and orthopaedic patients.
Conclusions
Adequate vitamin D status is necessary for both bone mineralisation and muscle function, and screening and correcting deficiency is warranted in musculoskeletal patients - but supplementation above sufficiency confers no additional musculoskeletal benefit.
Limitations
Narrative review without systematic search or pooled estimates; mixes observational associations with trial evidence; much of the supporting fracture-healing evidence is preclinical or from small clinical series.
Supplements Studied
Study examining vitamin D's dual role in maintaining bone health and supporting muscle function, including mechanisms at the cellular level.
Vitamin D is biologically inert until hydroxylated in liver and kidney to calcitriol, which drives intestinal calcium absorption and bone mineralisation. Deficiency causes rickets and osteomalacia and is associated with reduced muscle strength, impaired fracture healing and higher fall risk. The review reports benefit of correcting deficiency for bone healing and musculoskeletal function, and notes deficiency is highly prevalent in trauma and orthopaedic patients.
Study Details
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