Original Article
Association of vitamins B12 and D3 with Balance and Falls in a sample of Greek older people
Konstantinos Stolakis1, Panagiotis Megas2, Elias Panagiotopoulos3, Manolis Mentis4, Eleftheria Antoniadou5, Xristina Kalivioti5, Minos Tyllianakis2, Zinon Kokkalis2
1.
Medical School of Patras University, Greece
2.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Patras Medical School, Greece
3.
Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Department, Patras University Hospital, Greece
4.
Department of Education Sciences and Social Work, University of Patras, Greece
5.
Rehabilitation Clinic, Patras University Hospital, Greece
Abstract
Objectives: Balance disorders and falls are common in the elderly and have a multifactorial etiology. The purpose of the present cross-sectional study is to evaluate a possible association between vitamins D3 and B12 and impaired balance and falls. Methods: Ninety patients, females and males, were evaluated, from December 2019 to December 2020 during their first ambulatory visit at the Prevention of Falls Clinic of the General University Hospital of Patras. Vitamins B12 and D3 levels were measured. The number of falls during the last 12 months was recorded and patients were assessed using Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest), Fried Phenotype, Walking Speed, Hand Grip Strength, Short Physical Performance Battery. Results: A multiple linear regression analysis showed that Mini-BESTest are statistically significantly predicted, F(10,79)=18.734, p<0.001, adj. R2=0.70 from Vit-B12 and FRIED Phenotype (pre-frail vs non-frail). Similarly, in the multiple binary logistic regression analysis, falls were statistically significantly predicted from FRIED Phenotype (pre-frail vs non-frail) χ2(5)=63.918, p<0.001, Nagelkerke R Squared=0.68. Conclusions: Higher levels of vitamins B12 but not of D3 are associated with better balance but not with less falls in a sample of community-dwelling older people.
Keywords
Views:
Downloads: