VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTATION: EFFECT ON THE 25(OH)D PROFILE AND OCCURRENCE OF MUSCLE INJURIES IN PROFESSIONAL SOCCER ATHLETES

SUPLEMENTACIÓN DE VITAMINA D: EFECTO SOBRE EL PERFIL DE 25(OH)D Y LA OCURRENCIA DE LESIONES MUSCULARES EN ATLETAS DE FÚTBOL PROFESIONAL

ABSTRACT

Context: Vitamin D insufficiency has been described among professional soccer athletes.

Objective:

To evaluate 25(OH)D profile and occurrence of muscle injuries (MI) in Series A athletes with (2015 season - S1) and without Vitamin D supplementation (2016 season - S2).

Methods:

An observational, analytical, prospective, cohort study of 22 athletes who received the same evaluation at the start of the seasons and 25(OH)D and total calcium measurements in January and August of S1 and S2. Data on MI were obtained from the physiotherapy department of the club.

Results:

Chronological age: 23.4 ± 3.0 years; height (cm) 182 ± 0.7; total body mass (kg) 78.5 ± 8.6; total lean mass (kg) 65.9 ± 6.7 and total fat mass (kg) 13.2 ± 3.3. Solar radiation (kj/m²) at 10 a.m. did not differ between S1 and S2 (p = 0.19) while at 3 p.m., there was a significant difference (S2 > S1, p = 0.01). Total calcium was different between January and August of S2 (p <0.001); in August, the 25(OH)D of S2 was significantly lower than that of S1 in January (p = 0.01). On August of S2, 78.9% of the athletes had 25(OH)D values within the range of insufficiency/deficiency (p = 0.02). MI were twice as frequent in S2 (31 vs 16); the midfield and forward athletes were the ones most affected; grade I injuries were more prevalent; in S1, MI were more frequent in the dominant limb (75.0%) while in S2, there was no difference between the dominant (35.5%) and non-dominant (48.4%) limbs.

Conclusion:

Professional soccer athletes with adequate exposure to solar radiation do not appear to benefit from vitamin D supplementation to prevent muscle injuries. Level of evidence II, Therapeutic study.

Keywords:
Athletic performance; Soccer