Correlation between the Positive Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation and Physical Performance in Young Male Soccer Players

• Main Authors: Brzeziańska-Lasota, E. (Author), Brzeziański, M. (Author), Czechowska, A. (Author), Jastrzębski, Z. (Author), Migdalska-Sęk, M. (Author), Radzimiński, Ł. (Author), Sewerynek, E. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI 2022
• Subjects: 25(OH)D; football; skeletal muscle power; soccer players; vitamin D supplementation; VO2 max
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 The aim of this study was to determine whether supplementation with vitamin D during eight weeks of high-intensity training influences muscle power and aerobic performance in young soccer players. A total of 25 athletes were divided into two groups: the supplemented group (GS; n = 12; vitamin D 20,000 IU, twice a week) and the non-supplemented group (GN; n = 13). A set of measurements, including sprint tests, explosive power test, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and serum 25(OH)D concentration, were obtained before (T1) and after (T2) the intervention. A significant group x time interaction was found in the 25(OH)D serum levels (p = 0.002; ES = 0.36, large). A significant improvement in VO2max was found in the TG (p = 0.0004) and the GS (p = 0.031). Moreover, a positive correlation between 25(OH)D and VO2max (R = 0.4192, p = 0.0024) was cal-culated. The explosive power tests revealed insignificant time interactions in the average 10-jump height and average 10-jump power (p = 0.07, ES = 0.13; p = 0.10, ES = 0.11, respectively). A statistically insignificant trend was observed only in the group-by-time interaction for the sprint of 10 m (p = 0.05; ES = 0.15, large). The present study provides evidence that vitamin D supplementation has a positive but trivial impact on the explosive power and locomotor skills of young soccer players, but could significantly affect their aerobic performance. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.