Background:Recent studies have shown that cells in various tissues express vitamin D receptors, indicating that vitamin D deficiency could increase the prevalence of several diseases, including sarcopenia, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and cancer. However, these studies were conducted in the West, and research on the correlation between vitamin D levels and sarcopenia is lacking in the East. This study aimed to examine the correlation between vitamin D levels and sarcopenia in older adults aged ≥65 years and contribute to the health of this population, which is prone to gradual decline due to falls or fractures.

Methods:This cross-sectional investigation analyzed the data of 3,174 Korean adults aged ≥65 years, who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A diagnosis of sarcopenia was made in cases where the skeletal muscle mass was two standard deviations lower than the mean skeletal muscle mass of healthy adults aged 20–39 years; other cases were considered normal. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of blood vitamin D levels on sarcopenia.

Results:Vitamin D deficiency was associated with a significantly increased probability of sarcopenia in both males (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29–2.68) and females (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.30–2.47).

Conclusion:This finding suggests that maintaining adequate vitamin D levels could reduce the risk of sarcopenia in older individuals. The reduced risk of sarcopenia would subsequently decrease falls, fractures, and mortality rates, thereby enhancing the health of older adults.