The Claim

In older mobility-limited women with baseline vitamin D insufficiency, 16 weeks of daily 4,000 IU vitamin D3 supplementation is associated with a 20% increase in skeletal muscle VDR mRNA expression, while placebo is associated with a 3.2-fold decrease, suggesting vitamin D3 may sustainably upregulate VDR gene expression in aging muscle.

Source: Effects of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and Vitamin D3 on the Expression of the Vitamin D Receptor in Human Skeletal Muscle Cells

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
54score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

How it works
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In older women who have trouble moving and low vitamin D, taking a daily vitamin D supplement for 4 months might help their muscles make more of a key protein that helps vitamin D work, while those who take a fake pill might see that protein drop instead.

See the scientific wording

In older mobility-limited women with baseline vitamin D insufficiency, 16 weeks of daily 4,000 IU vitamin D3 supplementation is associated with a 20% increase in skeletal muscle VDR mRNA expression, while placebo is associated with a 3.2-fold decrease, suggesting vitamin D3 may sustainably upregulate VDR gene expression in aging muscle.

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Effects of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and Vitamin D3 on the Expression of the Vitamin D Receptor in Human Skeletal Muscle Cells

    The study gave older women vitamin D pills for 16 weeks and found their muscle cells made more of the vitamin D receptor, while those who got fake pills made less — exactly what the claim says.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

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