Research synthesisLow evidenceLarge effect3 studies · 1 beneficial · 2 neutral · 0 harmful
Across 3 studies, 1 reported a beneficial large-sized effect of vitamin D on gait speed in elderly patients with sarcopenia, while 2 found neutral small-sized effects. The median study duration across 2 reporting studies was 576 days, indicating effects typically observed at prolonged follow-up (8+ weeks). The evidence is predominantly drawn from clinical populations (elderly, postmenopausal women, sarcopenia patients), with most studies not specifying a consistent dose range.
- Studied populations: elderly patients with sarcopenia, postmenopausal women who were overweight or obese and had insufficient/deficient vitamin D levels, generally healthy active older adults
Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Many of the included studies did not reach statistical significance — effect may be smaller than the predominant direction suggests. The one beneficial study was a network meta-analysis, which may incorporate indirect comparisons and has higher risk of bias; the two null RCTs were smaller or had specific populations (e.g., vitamin D replete at baseline). Different study designs and populations limit generalizability.
Generated Jun 11, 2026