Changes in body composition parameters with age

Health risks are associated with changes in body composition parameters with age. In the present study, body composition parameters （appendicular skeletal muscle mass ［ASMM］, fat mass ［FM］, and water content ［water］） using bioelectrical impedance analysis （BIA） and total skeletal MM （TSMM） measured by 24-h creatinine excretion （Cr） were obtained in 30 male and 38 female healthy subjects. BIA-ASMM in both sexes and Cr-TSMM in females were negatively correlated with aging, and BIA-FM was negatively correlated with BIA-water in both sexes. Of note, Cr-TSMM was a more sensitive marker of MM than BIA-ASMM. Thus, decreases in BIA-ASMM and Cr- TSMM were the most consistent markers of aging and sarcopenia. This study may help promote nursing care for healthy aging

Diaper-zero program in nursing home

With an aging population, the number of older adults admitted to nursing homes has increased. Diapers are often used to manage nursing home resident urinary incontinence, yet only one-third of these required assistance from caregivers to urinate. Unnecessary diaper use was reported in 23.9% of people, mostly for precautionary purposes. In this study, the Diaper-zero program caregivers asked residents regularly (every 2-3 h) whether they required voiding and prompted them to void. Over 11 months, the effects on 38 nursing home residents’ diaper use, nursing care level, physical activity, daily energy, and water intake were measured. A higher rate of diaper wearing was initially observed with lower daily energy and water intakes at the beginning of the Diaper-zero program, but this association was not observed after 11 months of the program. The diaper usage rate decreased significantly from 71.1% to 47.4% after 11 months. During this period, for all subjects, nursing care level, physical activity, and total daily intakes of energy and water were unchanged. In conclusion, this program enhances the desire to void, minimizing diaper usage, thus protecting the human dignity of nursing home residents

Vitamin D supplementation and skeletal muscle

An intervention study was conducted to investigate the effects of daily 1,000-IU vitamin D-fortified milk intake on skeletal muscle mass, power, physical function and nutrition status in 26 healthy people and 8 older adults living in a nursing home. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level was 13.4 ± 0.8 ng / mL and it markedly increased to 29.6 ± 0.9 ng / mL after daily 1000-IU vitamin D-fortified milk intake for 6 months. Handgrip strength (kg) also significantly increased in the 21-50 years and total groups, and male subjects, and the timed up and go test significantly improved in the 21-50 years and total groups, and female subjects after 6-month vitamin D intake. However, there were no significant differences between baseline and post-treatment in the Barthel Index (BI), walking speed (m / sec) or skeletal muscle mass (kg, % of BW, kg / m2). Therefore, the present study suggested that vitamin D-fortified milk intake is effective at improving muscle strength and physical function in Japanese, although further studies are needed, particularly for older adults

Vitamin D and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level

The changes in the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations after daily 1000-IU vitamin D intake for 3 months (3-month-VD), 6 months (6-month-VD) and then 6-month cessation of vitamin D intake (6-month-VD cessation) were examined. The serum 25(OH)D levels in 11 male and 16 female subjects were 12.1 ± 3.5 ng / mL at baseline, increased to 27.1 ± 4.7 ng / mL at 3-month-VD, 28.5 ± 5.1 ng / mL at 6-month-VD and decreased to 16.4 ± 4.0 ng / mL at 6-month-VD cessation. The present study suggested that a vitamin D intake of 1000 IU / day is required to maintain the 25(OH) D concentration at 30 ng / mL or higher without vitamin D intoxication

Skeletal muscle mass and vitamin D

A clearer understanding of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in middle-aged and elderly individuals is important for maintaining functionality. In the present study, age-related changes in SMM, the threshold of SMM with walking difficulty, intestinal nutrient absorption rate, and various serum factors were examined in Japanese populations of different ages. We used 24-h creatinine excretion as a measure of total body SMM. Age-related decreases in SMM, intestinal nutrient absorption rates, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were significantly higher in women than in men. The cut-off values for SMM (kg), its percentage of total body weight (BW), the SMM index [SMMI] (Kg / m2), and creatinine height index (CHI) (%) in elderly individuals with walking difficulty were approximately 8-10 kg, 17-20% of BW, 3.9-4.6 kg / m2, and 44%, respectively. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were closely associated with SMM (kg, % of BW, kg / m2) and CHI (%) as well as the intestinal absorption rates of nitrogen (%) and phosphorus (%) in women, but not in men. The present results demonstrate that vitamin D is an important metabolic factor in skeletal muscle, and contributes to the optimal management of skeletal muscle and the prevention of sarcopenia

Skeletal muscle function and vitamin D

Age-related changes in muscle strength and physical functions, and the association between vitamin D status and skeletal muscle functions were investigated in 36 men (21-90 years old) and 52 women (21-104 years old). Significant ageing-related decreases in several skeletal muscle functions and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were observed in both men and women. Cut-off values for the Timed up and go (TUG) test, walking speed, handgrip strength and Barthel Index (BI) detecting walking difficulties in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were 11.1 sec, 0.60 m / sec, 17.0 kg, and 90.0 in males, and 28.6 sec, 0.43 m / sec, 13.9 kg, and 67.5 in females, respectively. By comparing personal present data of muscle strength with these cut-off values, people can easily understand their process to walking difficulty. Therefore, these results are important and useful to avoid or to delay a handicapped and dependent status by improving the vitamin D level, rehabilitation and nursing care

Skeletal muscle mass of old Japanese women suffering from walking difficulty in nursing home

By using 24 hour urinary creatinine levels, skeletal muscle mass (kg), its rate (%) of body weight and creatinine height index (%) were determined in old Japanese women suffering from walking difficulty in nursing home and compare with those of young university students. Those of old subjects showed approximately 30- 50%, 36-44% and44-46% of young subjects, respectively. It is suggested that these values are important and useful biomarkers for the planning and the achievement of rehabilitation program for the maintaining and restoring skeletal muscle mass and for the careful support by registered care workers to aged persons