To explore the relation between vitamin D and physical function outcomes in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Design
Cross-sectional study.
Setting
Rehabilitation institute.
Participants
Consecutive patients (N=100; 72 men and 28 women) with chronic SCI admitted to a rehabilitation program.
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures
Functional independence in activities of daily living (ADL) and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) were assessed as measures of physical function.
Results
Vitamin D deficiency (<20ng/mL) was found in 78 patients: they exhibited a significantly higher body mass index, lower functional independence in ADL, and were engaged in a significantly poorer weekly LTPA. At the linear multiple regression analysis, lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels showed significant independent associations with poorer functional independence in ADL (β=.59; 95% confidence interval, .36–.82; P<.0001) and with poorer LTPA (β=2.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.77–3.94; P=.004), after adjustment for other predictors of physical function outcomes selected by univariate analyses.
Conclusions
In people with chronic SCI, a low vitamin D level represents an independent predictor of poor physical function.
