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The association between vitamin D and urinary incontinence

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 70, page 1097 (2016)Cite this article

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We appreciate the insightful comments regarding our recent manuscript and the opportunity to provide a response. We agree that more information regarding the type of urinary incontinence (UI), which was not queried in the UAB Study of Aging, could provide additional information regarding the potential mechanism through which low vitamin D status impacts urinary symptom onset. Stress UI typically occurs in the setting of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction or damage. Urgency UI typically occurs because of bladder smooth muscle overactivity and, among men, is frequently associated with prostate enlargement.

The presence of vitamin D receptors in both skeletal and bladder smooth muscle, and the presence of 1α-hydroxylase in prostatic cells suggests that vitamin D could exert influence in the development of both stress UI and urgency UI, the most common types of UI occurring in older adults.1, 2, 3 We agree with the authors that the frequency of UI is important in determining bother and resulting impact on quality of life. A study of urgency UI suggests that even rare urgency UI is associated with moderate or major bother in up to 20% of persons.4

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Emory University/Atlanta VAMC, Atlanta, GA, USA

    C P Vaughan, V Tangpricha & A Markland

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  1. C P Vaughan
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  2. V Tangpricha
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  3. A Markland
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Correspondence to C P Vaughan.

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Vaughan, C., Tangpricha, V. & Markland, A. The association between vitamin D and urinary incontinence. Eur J Clin Nutr 70, 1097 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.128

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