WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (Chinese media) -- Vitamin D is
significantly associated with muscle power and force in adolescent girls,
according to a new study accepted for publication in the U.S. Journal of
Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism.
Although vitamin D is naturally produced in the body
through exposure to direct sunlight, its deficiency has become widely common in
the United States. Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to have a significant
negative impact on muscle and bone health, and can lead to conditions including
osteoporosis and rickets.
"We know vitamin D deficiency can weaken the muscular
and skeletal systems, but until now, little was known about the relationship of
vitamin D with muscle power and force," said Kate Ward, of the University of
Manchester in Britain, and lead author of the study. "Our study found that
vitamin D is positively related to muscle power, force, velocity and jump height
in adolescent girls."
For this study, researchers followed 99 adolescent
girls between the ages of 12 and 14 years. Ward and her colleagues took blood
samples to measure the girls' serum levels of vitamin D. Many of these girls
were found to have low levels of vitamin D despite not presenting any symptoms.
Researchers used a novel outcome measure called
jumping mechanography to measure muscle power and force. Jumping mechanography
derives power and force measurements from a subject's performance in a series of
jumping activities. Ward says this method of testing is ideal as the muscles
required to jump are those most often affected in subjects with vitamin D
deficiency. Girls without vitamin D deficiency performed significantly better in
these tests.
"Vitamin D affects the various ways muscles work and
we've seen from this study that there may be no visible symptoms of vitamin D
deficiency," said Ward. "Further studies are needed to address this problem and
determine the necessary levels of vitamin D for a healthy muscle
system."
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