Impact of home-based physical exercises and diet management on functional performance and depression among Vitamin D deficient females

Authors

  • Heba A. Bahey El-Deen Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Misr University for Science and Technology, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5602-1853
  • Mariam Ameer Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Modern University of Technology and Information, Cairo, Egypt. Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1996-5131
  • Doaa Saeed Department of Physical Therapy for Women’s Health, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Badr University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2495-5226
  • Wael O. A. Abd El-Khalek Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Badr University in Cairo, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7429-7586
  • Naglaa Fathey Moustafa Department of Physical Therapy for Internal Diseases and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, AL Hayah University in Cairo (AHUC)
  • Sara Al-Sharari Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Ghadeer Al-Sharari Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Amgad Al-Anazi Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Mohamed Farouk Abdel-Latif Lecturer, Orthopedic Physical Therapy Department, College of Physical Therapy, Misr University for Science and Technology, Cairo, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4583-2487
  • Mohamed Serag Eldein Mahgoub Mostafa Professor of physical therapy, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7389-8059
  • Mina Atef Georgui Elias Department of Physical Therapy, Ahmed Maher Teaching Hospital, General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes GOTHI, Cairo, Egypt. Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East London branch at European Universities in Egypt (EUE).

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v73.117736

Keywords:

Exercise, diet therapy, functional performance, depression, Vitamin D3

Abstract

Background: This study investigated the impact of different interventions on depression and functional performance in females with vitamin D3 deficiency, a condition found to be two to three times more prevalent in women and associated with various symptoms.

Methods: A total of 120 women were randomly assigned to four equal groups; Group A had a home exercise regimen, sun exposure, and vitamin D3 supplement; Group B had a diet, sun exposure, and vitamin D3 supplement; Group C received sun exposure and a vitamin D3 supplement; and Group D received no intervention.

Results: Over the study period, significant improvements were observed in Groups A, B, and C compared to Group D. These included increases in vitamin D3 levels and improved physical function, measured by the 6-minute walk test (p < 0.05), and reductions in depression and dyspnea, measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Dyspnea Borg Scale respectively (p < 0.001). Further analysis revealed that Groups A and B had greater reductions in depression scores than Group C (p < 0.01), though no significant difference was observed between Groups A and B (p > 0.05). Group A also showed a significantly greater improvement in dyspnea scores compared to Groups B and C (p < 0.01), while there was no difference between Groups B and C in this regard (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Therapeutic methods affected depression and functional performance in females with vitamin D3 deficiency, but exercise combined with Vitamin D3 supplement was more effective.

Author Biography

  • Heba A. Bahey El-Deen, Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Misr University for Science and Technology, Egypt.

    Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Misr University for Science and Technology, Egypt.

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Published

12-11-2025

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Vol. 73 (2025)

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Original Research Article

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Copyright (c) 2025 Heba A. Bahey El-Deen, Mariam Ameer, Doaa Saeed, Wael O. A. Abd El-Khalek, Naglaa Fathey Moustafa, Sara Al-Sharari, Ghadeer Al-Sharari, Amgad Al-Anazi, Mohamed Farouk Abdel-Latif, Mohamed Serag Eldein Mahgoub Mostafa, Mina Atef Georgui Elias

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How to Cite

El-Deen, H. A. B., Ameer, M., Saeed, D., Abd El-Khalek, W. O. A., Moustafa, N. F., Al-Sharari, S., Al-Sharari, G., Al-Anazi, A., Abdel-Latif, M. F., Mahgoub Mostafa, M. S. E., & Georgui Elias, M. A. (2025). Impact of home-based physical exercises and diet management on functional performance and depression among Vitamin D deficient females. Retos, 73, 1356-1367. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v73.117736