2X less urinary incontinence in senior women when vitamin D greater than 30 ng– April 2010

Vitamin D and Pelvic Floor Disorders in Women: Results From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Obstetrics & Gynecology: April 2010 - Volume 115 - Issue 4 - pp 795-803
Badalian, Samuel S. MD, PhD; Rosenbaum, Paula F. PhD
From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and Gynecology and Urogynecology Center, St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center, Syracuse, New York; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York.
From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.
Corresponding author: Samuel Badalian, MD, PhD, 104 Union Avenue, Suite #803, Syracuse, NY 13203; e-mail: badalian at netzero.com.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in women with pelvic floor disorders and to evaluate possible associations between vitamin D levels and pelvic floor disorders.

METHODS: Using 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of nonpregnant women older than 20 years of age with data on both pelvic floor disorders and vitamin D measurements (n=1,881). Vitamin D levels lower than 30 ng/mL were considered insufficient. The prevalence of demographic factors, pelvic floor disorders, and vitamin D levels were determined, accounting for the multi-stage sampling design; odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to evaluate associations between vitamin D levels and pelvic floor disorders with control for known risk factors.

RESULTS: One or more pelvic floor disorders were reported by 23% of women. Mean vitamin D levels were significantly lower for women reporting at least one pelvic floor disorder and for those with urinary incontinence, irrespective of age. In adjusted logistic regression models, we observed significantly decreased risks of one or more pelvic floor disorders with increasing vitamin D levels in all women aged 20 or older (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88–0.99) and in the subset of women 50 years and older (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85–0.99). Additionally, the likelihood of urinary incontinence was significantly reduced in women 50 and older with vitamin D levels 30 ng/mL or higher (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.34–0.91).

CONCLUSION: Higher vitamin D levels are associated with a decreased risk of pelvic floor disorders in women.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III

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See also Vitamin D Life

• Overview Women and Vitamin D
• All items in category Women and vitamin D 139 items
• Fecal incontinence 2.8 X more likely with low vitamin D – May 2014
• Urgency Urinary Incontinence in senior black women decreased 40 percent by weekly 50,000 IU vitamin D – RCT Dec 2018

See also web

• An ‘Emotional Burden’ Rarely Discussed NYT July 2014 - vitamin D not mentioned
  37 million seniors who live independently have some type of incontinence. - typically urinary
  Urinary leakage 40%, 24%s have moderate or severe urinary incontinence
  This problem affects women 2X more than men.
  39 % of assisted-living residents,
  45 % of home health care recipients
  76 % in long-term care in nursing homes