Conventional vestibular tests quantify canal and otolith function, whereas the functional head impulse test (fHIT) measures how effectively the vestibulo-ocular reflex stabilizes vision during high-acceleration head motion. Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] has been linked to otolith dysfunction, but its relation to functional performance is unknown....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
No actionable clinical change at this time; findings are preliminary and require replication before influencing which balance tests audiologists or vestibular specialists select for patients with varying vitamin D levels.
If vitamin D status systematically influences vestibulo-ocular reflex test results differently depending on the test used, clinicians interpreting balance assessments may need to account for nutritional factors to avoid misclassification.
- 01Study compares functional head impulse test (fHIT) and video head impulse test (vHIT) gain across serum 25(OH)D (vitamin D) level categories.
- 02A dissociation was found between fHIT performance and vHIT gain, meaning the two tests gave different pictures of balance function.
- 03Published in Acta Otolaryngologica (PMID 42969303).
- 04Vitamin D's potential role in vestibular (inner-ear balance) function is an emerging and incompletely understood area.
- 05Study design and sample size details are not available from the title/abstract alone, limiting interpretation.
fHIT performance and vHIT gain are dissociated across serum 25(OH)D categories, indicating the two measures reflect different aspects of vestibulo-ocular function.
studypartially supportedSerum vitamin D levels are associated with measurable differences in vestibulo-ocular reflex test outcomes.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42969303
- DOI
- 10.1080/00016489.2026.2755224.
- Journal
- Acta Otolaryngologica
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Individuals grouped by serum 25(OH)D (vitamin D) concentration categories
- Intervention
- Measurement of fHIT performance and vHIT gain across vitamin D level categories
- Comparator
- Comparison across serum 25(OH)D categories
Primary outcomes
Functional head impulse test (fHIT) performance; Video head impulse test (vHIT) gain