Vitamin D Status in Soccer Players with Skeletal Muscle Injury

Objectives: The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in a group of soccer players, and to investigate the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations, and muscle strain injuries and time taken to return to play. Material and Methods: Serum vitamin D levels were measured in a sample of 56 male soccer players (skeletal muscle injury group, n=36; healthy control group, n=20), homogeneous in terms of factors influencing serum 25(OH)D concentration, from the capital city of Turkey, Ankara (Latitude: 39°57'N), between January-April 2017. Skeletal muscle injury was confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and history of muscle injury was documented as part of routine care. The relation between serum 25(OH)D levels and muscle strain injury, severity of injury, and the correlation between serum 25(OH)D levels and time taken to play was evaluated. Results: High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among participants was detected. The average 25(OH)D level of 56 athletes was 15.9 ± 8.1 ng/ml (range 5.3 to 38.6 ng/ml). The distribution of vitamin D level results was as follows: deficient (