Vitamin D Status and Muscle Function Among Adolescent and Young Swimmers

Rikke Ellekilde Kofoed Larsen, Nina Rica Wium Geiker, Mette Hansen, Niklas Rye Jørgensen, Jette Jakobsen, Birthe Stenbæk Hansen, Michael Kristensen, Susanne Bugel

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    Impaired muscle function has been coupled to vitamin D insufficiency in young women and in elderly men and women. Those living at Northern latitudes are at risk for vitamin D insufficiency due to low sun exposure which may be more pronounced among elite swimmers because of their indoor training schedules. We aimed to examine vitamin D status among young elite swimmers and evaluate the association between vitamin D status and muscle strength. Twenty-nine swimmers, 12 female and 17 male (16-24 years) residing at latitude 55-56°N were studied in March and April. Blood samples were analyzed for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (s-25(OH)D) and hand-grip strength was measured as marker of muscle strength. Subjects' vitamin D and calcium intake were assessed by food frequency questionnaire and sun exposure and training status by questionnaires. Mean (± SD) s-25(OH)D was 52.6 ± 18.3nmol/L among all swimmers. In 45% of the swimmers s-25(OH)D was below 50 nmol/L. Female swimmers had higher s-25(OH)D concentration than male swimmers (61.7 ± 17,5 nmol/L vs. 46.2 ± 16,5 nmol/L, p = .026). Among male swimmers, those with sufficient vitamin D status had higher hand grip strength than those with insufficient vitamin D status (50.6 ± 6.4 kg vs. 41.1 ± 7.8 kg, p = .02). Among Danish elite swimmers 45% had an insufficient vitamin D status during the spring; the prevalence being higher among male swimmers. Muscle strength was significantly higher in male swimmers with sufficient vitamin D status.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalInternational Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism
    Volume27
    Issue number5
    Pages (from-to)399-407
    Number of pages9
    ISSN1526-484X
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2017

    Keywords

    • nutrition
    • training

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