Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone are associated with gait instability and poor balance performance in mid-age to older aged women

Abstract

Context Vitamin D status and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels influence the risk of accidental falls in older people, but the mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. Objective Investigate the relationship between circulating PTH and 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels and clinical tests of gait stability and balance as physical fall risk factors. We hypothesized that high levels of PTH and low 25-OHD levels would be significantly associated with gait stability and decreased balance performance. Design Observational cohort study. Setting Australian community. Participants 119 healthy, ambulatory female twin adults aged 47–80 years residing in Victoria, Australia. Outcome measures Se..