Vitamin D Deficiency May Lead to Loss of Muscle as You Age, Study Says

Losing muscle as you get older can be inconvenient, not to mention dangerous. Along with the fact that it can make tackling everyday tasks more difficult,

To prevent that from potentially being a problem you'd have to face sooner rather than later, you want to ensure that you're getting the right vitamins into your diet or via supplements.

At the beginning of the study, the participants had not yet lost muscle due to aging. However, after the course of four years, those who were deficient in vitamin D were 70% more likely to have suffered from muscle loss.

It's necessary to explain to people that they risk losing muscle strength if they don't get enough vitamin D.

"They need to expose themselves to the sun, eat food rich in vitamin D or take a supplement, and do resistance training exercises to maintain muscle strength."

we age since vitamin D helps maintain healthy bones and muscles. When we lose strength or muscle mass, we may fall more easily, become injured more readily and severely, and heal more slowly than before.

If you are 71 or older, aim for closer to 800 IU per day. Since you may have unique needs, a physician or nutritionist can provide more specific guidance.

"It's important not to exceed 4,000 IU per day, as too much vitamin D can contribute to nausea, vomiting, kidney stones, heart damage, and cancer,"

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