The Effect of Alfacalcidol on Muscle Strength in Elderly Indonesian Women : A Randomized Controlled Trial

The age-related increase in falls is strongly associated with a decline in muscle strength by the mechanism of sarcopenia. There has been great interest in developing approaches to counteract the effects of sarcopenia, and thereby reduce the age-related decline in muscle mass with vitamin D that have muscular effect. However, a limited number of studies demonstrate a vitamin D analog (alfacalcidol) increase in lower body muscle strength in adults with vitamin D deficiency. A double-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in order to determine the effect of alfacalcidol on the upper-body muscle strength in Indonesian elderly women in age group of 60 or more who had low handgrip strength.