Journal List > Korean J Sports Med > v.36(2) > 1095643

Yang and Lhee: Do Young Athletes Need Vitamin D Supplement? Vitamin D Status and Deficiency Related Factor on Sports Type (Indoor vs. Outdoor), Age, Sex, Body Mass Index, Seasonal Variations in Korean Young Athletes

Abstract

Purpose

Several studies have suggested that vitamin D deficiency has significant effects on muscle weakness, injury and illness, and ultimately, exercise performance. However, studies on vitamin D status and deficiency related factors for young athletes are still lacking.

Methods

Four hundred athletes who have undergone serum vitamin D (D2 and D3) test were studied. Vitamins were classified into three groups (deficiency, insufficiency, and adequacy). Blood sampling time was classified into four groups (spring, summer, fall, and winter).

Results

Of the 400 athletes, 31.5% were deficient, 48.25% were insufficient, and 20.25% were adequate in vitamin D. The group with lower vitamin D levels was older, had a higher body weight, and had higher body mass index. Comparisons by sex were significantly lower in female athletes than male athletes for indoor sports. Seasonal comparisons were significantly lower in winter than in spring, summer, and autumn. When the correlation analysis between the characteristics of the athletes and vitamin D was analyzed, there was a weak negative correlation between age and body mass index and height and weight were not related. Athletes' vitamin D levels are higher than the general population, but about 80% of them have vitamin D deficiency.

Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency causes exercise performance and performance deterioration; therefore, it is necessary to monitor and manage more closely when there are related factors.

References

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Table 1.
Classification of participant
Group Number Male Female Vitamin D, mean (ng/mL)
A: Outdoor player 344 337 7 24.71
B: Indoor player 56 37 19 18.32
C: The public 867 420 447 14.71
D: Vitamin D supplement 11 10 1 40.32
Table 2.
Demographic of participant
Characteristics A: outdoor player B: indoor player C: the public
Age (yr) 17.91±3.80 22.71±6.10 23.99±6.83
Vitamin D (ng/mL) 24.71±7.19 18.32±7.29 14.71±5.36
Height (cm) 175.73±7.71 175.35±12.29 166.91±8.27
Weight (kg) 74.64±12.08 73.87±17.67 63.70±13.97
Body mass index (kg/m2) 24.05±2.83 23.76±3.39 22.73±3.98
Calcium (mg/dL) 8.71±0.40 8.57±0.33

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation. Standard values of our laboratory: 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 32–80 μg/L; Ca, 8.6−10 mg/dL.

Table 3.
Players demographics for each group of vitamin D status
Variable Vitamin D status
p-value*
Deficiency (<20 ng/mL) Insufficiency (20−32 ng/mL) Adequacy (>32 ng/mL)
No. of players (%) 126 (31.5) 193 (48.25) 81 (20.25)
Age (yr) 20.02±5.2 18.07±3.9 17.57±4.1 0.000
Vitamin D (ng/mL) 15.5±3.95 24±2.9 34±3.7
Height (cm) 175.94±7.8 175.57±9.1 175.50±8.1 0.925
Weight (kg) 75.92±13.1 75.23±13.4 70.62±11.1 0.021
Body mass index (kg/m2) 24.41±3.2 24.25±2.8 22.80±2.9 0.001

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation unless otherwise indicated.

* By analysis of variance.

Table 4.
Comparison between sex/sport type and vitamin D status on players
Variable Number Vitamin D (ng/mL) p-value
Player     0.001*
 Male 374 24.16±7.37  
 Female 26 18.95±8.25  
Sport type     0.000
 Outdoor 344 24.71±7.19  
 Indoor 56 18.32±7.29  
 The public 867 14.71±5.36  

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation.

* By t-test;

By analysis of variance.

Table 5.
Seasonal variation of vitamin D on players
Season No. of patients Vitamin D (ng/mL)
Spring 75 25.17±7.5 (11.4−43.5)
Summer 110 25.18±6.6 (14.2−46.1)
Fall 143 25.06±6.3 (7.76−39.0)
Winter 72 17.85±8.3 (3.52−40.8)

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation (range). Analysis of variance test: p=0.000; post-hoc test: spring, summer, fall vs. winter, p=0.000.

Table 6.
Correlations between vitamin D level and each player parameter
Valuable Pearson correlation p-value
Age −0.222 0.000
Height −0.007 0.904
Weight −0.102 0.064
Body mass index −0.144 0.008
Table 7.
Multiple regression analysis between vitamin D level and each player parameter
Valuable Regression Coefficient p-value
Sport type* −4.696 0.000
Season −1.880 0.000
Age −0.202 0.028

* Sport type: indoor and outdoor;

Season: spring, summer, fall, and winter.

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