Assessment of vitamin D concentration in non-supplemented professional athletes and healthy adults during the winter months in the UK: implications for skeletal muscle function

TY - JOUR

T1 - Assessment of vitamin D concentration in non-supplemented professional athletes and healthy adults during the winter months in the UK

T2 - implications for skeletal muscle function

AU - Close, G.L.

AU - Russell, J.

AU - Cobley, J.N.

AU - Owens, D.J.

AU - Wilson, G.

AU - Gregson, W.

AU - Fraser, W.D.

AU - Morton, J.P.

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - The current study implemented a two-part design to (1) assess the vitamin D concentration of a large cohort of non-vitamin D supplemented UK-based athletes and 30 age-matched healthy non-athletes and (2) to examine the effects of 5000 IU · day−1 vitamin D3 supplementation for 8-weeks on musculoskeletal performance in a placebo controlled trial. Vitamin D concentration was determined as severely deficient if serum 25(OH)D < 12.5 nmol · l−1, deficient 12.5–30 nmol · l−1 and inadequate 30–50 nmol · l−1. We demonstrate that 62% of the athletes (38/61) and 73% of the controls (22/30) exhibited serum total 25(OH)D < 50 nmol · l−1. Additionally, vitamin D supplementation increased serum total 25(OH)D from baseline (mean ± SD = 29 ± 25 to 103 ± 25 nmol · l−1, P = 0.0028), whereas the placebo showed no significant change (53 ± 29 to 74 ± 24 nmol · l−1, P = 0.12). There was a significant increase in 10 m sprint times (P = 0.008) and vertical-jump (P = 0.008) in the vitamin D group whereas the placebo showed no change (P = 0.587 and P = 0.204 respectively). The current data supports previous findings that athletes living at Northerly latitudes (UK = 53° N) exhibit inadequate vitamin D concentrations (<50 nmol · l−1). Additionally the data suggests that inadequate vitamin D concentration is detrimental to musculoskeletal performance in athletes. Future studies using larger athletic groups are now warranted.

AB - The current study implemented a two-part design to (1) assess the vitamin D concentration of a large cohort of non-vitamin D supplemented UK-based athletes and 30 age-matched healthy non-athletes and (2) to examine the effects of 5000 IU · day−1 vitamin D3 supplementation for 8-weeks on musculoskeletal performance in a placebo controlled trial. Vitamin D concentration was determined as severely deficient if serum 25(OH)D < 12.5 nmol · l−1, deficient 12.5–30 nmol · l−1 and inadequate 30–50 nmol · l−1. We demonstrate that 62% of the athletes (38/61) and 73% of the controls (22/30) exhibited serum total 25(OH)D < 50 nmol · l−1. Additionally, vitamin D supplementation increased serum total 25(OH)D from baseline (mean ± SD = 29 ± 25 to 103 ± 25 nmol · l−1, P = 0.0028), whereas the placebo showed no significant change (53 ± 29 to 74 ± 24 nmol · l−1, P = 0.12). There was a significant increase in 10 m sprint times (P = 0.008) and vertical-jump (P = 0.008) in the vitamin D group whereas the placebo showed no change (P = 0.587 and P = 0.204 respectively). The current data supports previous findings that athletes living at Northerly latitudes (UK = 53° N) exhibit inadequate vitamin D concentrations (<50 nmol · l−1). Additionally the data suggests that inadequate vitamin D concentration is detrimental to musculoskeletal performance in athletes. Future studies using larger athletic groups are now warranted.

KW - 25(OH)D

KW - Vitamin D

KW - Supplementation

KW - deficiency

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84874797621

U2 - 10.1080/02640414.2012.733822

DO - 10.1080/02640414.2012.733822

M3 - Article

SN - 0264-0414

VL - 31

SP - 344

EP - 353

JO - Journal of Sports Sciences

JF - Journal of Sports Sciences

IS - 4

ER -