No independent association between dietary calcium/vitamin D and appendicular lean mass index in middle-aged women: NHANES cross-sectional analysis (2011–2018)

Abstract Skeletal muscle preservation during midlife is critical for preventing sarcopenia in aging populations. While calcium and vitamin D are recognized for their musculoskeletal benefits, their specific associations with muscle mass in middle-aged women remain unclear. This cross-sectional study...

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Main Authors: Zhengwei Lai, Fang Jin, Chunmei Zhu, Zhongxin Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02505-x
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author Zhengwei Lai
Fang Jin
Chunmei Zhu
Zhongxin Zhu
author_facet Zhengwei Lai
Fang Jin
Chunmei Zhu
Zhongxin Zhu
author_sort Zhengwei Lai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Skeletal muscle preservation during midlife is critical for preventing sarcopenia in aging populations. While calcium and vitamin D are recognized for their musculoskeletal benefits, their specific associations with muscle mass in middle-aged women remain unclear. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 2,496 women aged 40–59 years in the NHANES (2011–2018). Multivariable linear regression models adjusted for demographics, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities evaluated associations between dietary calcium, vitamin D intakes and appendicular lean mass index (ALMI), with subgroup analyses by menopausal status and other covariates. After full adjustment, neither dietary calcium nor vitamin D intake showed significant associations with ALMI. Null findings persisted across all subgroups. Dietary calcium and vitamin D intake were not independently associated with ALMI in middle-aged women. These results highlight the need to investigate broader nutritional patterns or synergistic mechanisms influencing muscle health during midlife.
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spelling doaj-art-eab865f1ae834967a155b1e8dc2dc4732025-08-20T02:29:26ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-011511910.1038/s41598-025-02505-xNo independent association between dietary calcium/vitamin D and appendicular lean mass index in middle-aged women: NHANES cross-sectional analysis (2011–2018)Zhengwei Lai0Fang Jin1Chunmei Zhu2Zhongxin Zhu3Department of Gynaecology, The First People’s Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Xiaoshan Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Osteoporosis Care and Control, The First People’s Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Xiaoshan Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityCommunity Health Service Center of PuyangDepartment of Osteoporosis Care and Control, The First People’s Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Xiaoshan Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityAbstract Skeletal muscle preservation during midlife is critical for preventing sarcopenia in aging populations. While calcium and vitamin D are recognized for their musculoskeletal benefits, their specific associations with muscle mass in middle-aged women remain unclear. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 2,496 women aged 40–59 years in the NHANES (2011–2018). Multivariable linear regression models adjusted for demographics, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities evaluated associations between dietary calcium, vitamin D intakes and appendicular lean mass index (ALMI), with subgroup analyses by menopausal status and other covariates. After full adjustment, neither dietary calcium nor vitamin D intake showed significant associations with ALMI. Null findings persisted across all subgroups. Dietary calcium and vitamin D intake were not independently associated with ALMI in middle-aged women. These results highlight the need to investigate broader nutritional patterns or synergistic mechanisms influencing muscle health during midlife.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02505-xCalciumVitamin DAppendicular lean massMidlife womenNHANES
spellingShingle Zhengwei Lai
Fang Jin
Chunmei Zhu
Zhongxin Zhu
No independent association between dietary calcium/vitamin D and appendicular lean mass index in middle-aged women: NHANES cross-sectional analysis (2011–2018)
Scientific Reports
Calcium
Vitamin D
Appendicular lean mass
Midlife women
NHANES
title No independent association between dietary calcium/vitamin D and appendicular lean mass index in middle-aged women: NHANES cross-sectional analysis (2011–2018)
title_full No independent association between dietary calcium/vitamin D and appendicular lean mass index in middle-aged women: NHANES cross-sectional analysis (2011–2018)
title_fullStr No independent association between dietary calcium/vitamin D and appendicular lean mass index in middle-aged women: NHANES cross-sectional analysis (2011–2018)
title_full_unstemmed No independent association between dietary calcium/vitamin D and appendicular lean mass index in middle-aged women: NHANES cross-sectional analysis (2011–2018)
title_short No independent association between dietary calcium/vitamin D and appendicular lean mass index in middle-aged women: NHANES cross-sectional analysis (2011–2018)
title_sort no independent association between dietary calcium vitamin d and appendicular lean mass index in middle aged women nhanes cross sectional analysis 2011 2018
topic Calcium
Vitamin D
Appendicular lean mass
Midlife women
NHANES
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02505-x
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AT chunmeizhu noindependentassociationbetweendietarycalciumvitamindandappendicularleanmassindexinmiddleagedwomennhanescrosssectionalanalysis20112018
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