Nutrients, Vol. 18, Pages 1078: Vitamin D Deficiency in Institutionalized Older Adults: Associations with Supplementation Practices but Not with Cognitive Decline or Dementia
Nutrients doi: 10.3390/nu18071078
Authors:
Larissa David Soares
Myrella Teixeira Rosales
Bruna Costa Silveira
Alice Moreira Rizzolli
Caroline Helen Santos Gonçalves Mazala
Isabela Thurow Lemes
Fabiana Da Silveira Santos Sinnott
Thiago Falson Santana
Érica Paiva Espinosa
Eduarda Neutzling Drawanz
Ana Beatriz Gonçalves Araújo
Nathalia Passos Moura
Aline Longoni
Diogo Onofre Souza
Maria Noel Marzano Rodrigues
Adriano Martimbianco De Assis
Background/Objectives: Population aging has been accompanied by increased institutionalization of older adults and a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this group. Although the literature suggests a possible relationship between vitamin D and cognition, findings remain inconsistent, particularly in institutional settings. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in institutionalized older adults, emphasizing the role of vitamin D supplementation and length of institutionalization, as well as to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D levels, cognitive decline, and dementia. Methods: A total of 104 older adults living in different long-term care institutions (LTCFs) in the city of Pelotas, RS, Brazil, were evaluated. Sociodemographic, clinical, and nutritional data were collected via interviews and medical record review. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were categorized according to the Institute of Medicine cutoffs (<20 ng/mL and ≥20 ng/mL). Cognitive decline was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination, and dementia was evaluated with the Clinical Dementia Rating scale. Analyses included bivariate tests and binary logistic regression. Results: A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (52.9%), cognitive decline (83.6%), and questionable or mild dementia (79.4%) was observed. In multivariate analysis, vitamin D supplementation remained independently associated with vitamin D deficiency, whereas no significant association was observed between vitamin D levels and cognitive decline or dementia. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency in institutionalized older adults is predominantly associated with contextual and care-related factors rather than cognitive impairment, highlighting the importance of systematic nutritional monitoring and vitamin D supplementation strategies in institutional settings.
Background/Objectives: Population aging has been accompanied by increased institutionalization of older adults and a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this group. Although the literature suggests a possible relationship between vitamin D and cognition, findings remain inconsistent, particularly in institutional settings. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in institutionalized older adults, emphasizing the role of vitamin D supplementation and length of institutionalization, as well as to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D levels, cognitive decline, and dementia. Methods: A total of 104 older adults living in different long-term care institutions (LTCFs) in the city of Pelotas, RS, Brazil, were evaluated. Sociodemographic, clinical, and nutritional data were collected via interviews and medical record review. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were categorized according to the Institute of Medicine cutoffs (<20 ng/mL and ≥20 ng/mL). Cognitive decline was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination, and dementia was evaluated with the Clinical Dementia Rating scale. Analyses included bivariate tests and binary logistic regression. Results: A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (52.9%), cognitive decline (83.6%), and questionable or mild dementia (79.4%) was observed. In multivariate analysis, vitamin D supplementation remained independently associated with vitamin D deficiency, whereas no significant association was observed between vitamin D levels and cognitive decline or dementia. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency in institutionalized older adults is predominantly associated with contextual and care-related factors rather than cognitive impairment, highlighting the importance of systematic nutritional monitoring and vitamin D supplementation strategies in institutional settings. Read More