The influence of vitamin D supplementation and strength training on health biomarkers and chromosomal damage in community-dwelling older adults

Agnes Draxler, Bernhard Franzke, Sanja Kelecevic, Alexander Maier, Jelena Pantic, Simon Srienc, Katharina Cellnigg, Scoris-Marian Solomon, Carina Zötsch, Rudolf Aschauer, Sandra Unterberger, Patrick A Zöhrer, Laura Bragagna, Eva-Maria Strasser, Barbara Wessner, Karl-Heinz Wagner (Corresponding author)

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Abstract

Older adults lack of proper physical activity which is often accompanied by vitamin D deficiency. Those factors are known to contribute to health issues in the later years of life. The main goal of this intervention study was to investigate the effect of different vitamin D supplementation strategies for 4 weeks solely or combined with a 10-week strength training program on chromosomal stability in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in community-dwelling older people. One hundred women and men (65-85 years) received either vitamin D3 daily (800 IU), a monthly dose (50.000 IU) or placebo for 17 weeks. All groups received 400 mg calcium daily. The fitness status of the study participants was measured using the 30- second chair stand test, the handgrip strength test and the 6-min walk test. The cytokinesis block micronucleus cytome (CBMN) assay was applied to analyze chromosomal anomalies, including cytotoxic and genotoxic parameters. Changes in antioxidant markers were measured in plasma. Walking distance and chair stand performance improved significantly. Increased levels of the parameters of the CBMN assay were detected for all intervention groups at study end. At baseline micronuclei (MNi) frequency correlated significantly with BMI in both sexes (females: r = 0.369, p = 0.034; males: r = 0.265, p = 0.035), but not with vitamin D serum levels. In females, body fat (r = 0.372, p < 0.001) and functional parameter using the 30-s chair stand test (r = 0.311, p = 0.002) correlated significantly with MNi frequency. Interestingly, not vitamin D supplementation but 10 weeks of resistance training increased MNi frequency indicating elevated chromosomal instability and also adverse effects on antioxidant markers including glutathione and FRAP were detected in the group of community-dwelling older adults.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102640
JournalRedox biology
Volume61
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2023

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 303028 Sport science
  • 303009 Nutritional sciences
  • 302020 Gerontology

Keywords

  • Cholecalciferol
  • Chromosome abnormality
  • DNA instability
  • Elderly
  • Micronuclei frequency
  • Resistance exercise
  • Vitamin D supplementation

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