Vitamin D is an essential supplement known to have a variety of health benefits, such as a strengthening the immune system, prevent of diabetes, regulate blood pressure, and the treat numerous diseases. Thanks to recent research, there’s one more health benefit that Vitamin D
The Research Findings
The research involving 3,000 people between the ages of 70 to 79 showed that those who had low vitamin D levels before the study started had a 30% risk of mobility limitation and had increased chances of suffering mobility-related illnesses. They’re twice as likely to suffer mobility disability as those who had the highest Vitamin D levels.
The research volunteers all lived independently. They were made to perform activities such as climbing 10 steps and walking a quarter of a mile.
Six years after the study, 2,099 of the volunteers answered questions regarding mobility limitations. This was defined as at least two episodes of difficulty performing the activities they initially performed. Those who had high Vitamin D levels had an increased risk of 29% mobility limitations, while those with the lowest Vitamin D levels had as much as 93% increased mobility limitation.
Although there was an increased mobility limitation for both groups, those with low Vitamin D levels had a significantly increased risk of mobility limitation.
Taking Vitamin D for Improved Mobility
The formula for increased mobility is quite simple: take Vitamin D. Although the body can produce Vitamin D naturally when exposed to sunlight, this isn’t a great idea, since the risk of skin cancer is present. Also, the skin is not as effective in absorbing sunlight as a person grows older.
Vitamin D is important for efficient muscle function. Muscles have Vitamin D receptors and these receptors are necessary for calcium to be absorbed by the muscles.
Although the study was observational and the researchers noted that requiring older adults to take Vitamin D was premature as a daily dose of 800 international units of Vitamin D should be enough. The vitamin can already be found in fortified milk, egg yolk, mushrooms, fatty fish, and cheese.