A 12-Week Ballroom Dance Training Improves Physical Fitness Performance More Than Walking Training in Older Women, Regardless of Vitamin B12 or D Adequacy.

This study compared the effects of Ballroom Dancing (BD) and Walking Training (WT) on physical fitness in physically independent older women, considering their serum levels of vitamins B12 and D. Over 12 weeks, both interventions improved physical fitness, but BD yielded greater enhancements in lower limb muscle power, agility, aerobic capacity, and strength than WT, regardless of vitamin D and B12 adequacy. Women with adequate vitamin B12 levels showed more pronounced improvements across several fitness variables in both exercise groups, whereas vitamin D levels did not significantly influence outcomes. The findings suggest that BD may be a more effective community-based exercise modality for improving multiple aspects of physical fitness in older women, independent of vitamin D status.