Vitamin D and calcium regulate body muscle function and fat accumulation: A retrospective study based on the UK biobank

Abstract Background: Calcium and vitamin D play crucial roles in muscle health and fat distribution. Both dietary intake and serum levels of calcium and vitamin D are commonly examined in relation to overall body health. Methods: The United Kingdom Biobank (UKB) database was searched and analyzed. Dietary and serum calcium and vitamin D levels were extracted from the data to evaluate potential associations with body composition. Linear regression analysis, ordinal regression analysis, and interaction analysis were used to examine the associations between variables. Results: In the survey of over 50,000 individuals in the UKB, the frequency of low hand grip strength (HGS) was higher among those with low dietary calcium intake at baseline. Furthermore, individuals with low serum vitamin D levels exhibited a higher prevalence of high body fat percentage (BFP) events. Notably, these influences were observed to persist for nearly 10 years. Moreover, the data suggested that serum vitamin D levels should exceed 50 nmol/L and the daily dietary calcium intake should be at least 1,000 mg to maintain the strength and keep a lower BFP ( OR : 0.68, 95% CI : 0.52-0.90, P =0.0057). Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of increasing calcium and vitamin D intake and monitoring serum vitamin D levels for effective public health strategies.