Baduanjin Exercise, With or Without Vitamin D, Outperforms Vitamin D Alone in Reducing Frailty Among Institutionalized Older Adults: A Cluster-Based Randomized Controlled Trial.

Frailty phenotype scores were significantly lower in the Baduanjin and combined groups compared with the vitamin D group after 3 months.

• Baduanjin group frailty phenotype score: 1.43 ± 0.90 (p < 0.05 vs. vitamin D group)
• Combined group frailty phenotype score: 1.08 ± 1.10 (p < 0.05 vs. vitamin D group)
• Vitamin D group frailty phenotype score: 2.65 ± 0.79
• No significant difference was observed between the Baduanjin and combined groups (p = 0.470)
• Group comparisons were conducted using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)

No significant between-group differences were found in changes in serum 1,25(OH)2D3 levels.

• Between-group difference in 1,25(OH)2D3 changes was not significant (p = 0.215)
• Vitamin D group showed significant within-group increase from 15.04 ± 2.67 to 18.43 ± 3.70 (p < 0.05)
• Combined group showed significant within-group increase from 14.77 ± 2.15 to 16.86 ± 2.50 (p < 0.05)
• Serum 1,25(OH)2D3 concentration was a secondary outcome measure

The study was a cluster-based randomized controlled trial involving 64 institutionalized older adults assigned to three intervention groups over 3 months.

• Participants were drawn from three long-term care facilities in Jinan, China
• Baduanjin group: n = 23; vitamin D group: n = 17; combined group: n = 24
• Intervention duration was 3 months
• Primary outcome was the frailty phenotype score; secondary outcome was serum 1,25(OH)2D3 concentration

Vitamin D supplementation alone did not significantly reduce frailty phenotype scores compared with exercise-based interventions.

• The vitamin D group had the highest post-intervention frailty phenotype score at 2.65 ± 0.79
• Both Baduanjin alone and combined groups significantly outperformed the vitamin D group (p < 0.05 for each)
• Frailty is described as a common condition among older adults in long-term care facilities associated with adverse health outcomes

Adding vitamin D supplementation to Baduanjin exercise did not provide additional benefit over Baduanjin exercise alone in reducing frailty.

• No significant difference between Baduanjin and combined groups (p = 0.470)
• Combined group score: 1.08 ± 1.10 vs. Baduanjin group score: 1.43 ± 0.90
• This suggests the exercise component, rather than the combined effect, drove frailty reduction