Serum vitamin D influence on bone mineral density in collegiate athletes

BACKGROUND: Inadequate bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with an increased risk of fractures. Supplemen-tation of vitamin D is used to increase serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). The purpose of this study was to determine if supplementation with vitamin D3 is associated with greater retention of BMD. METHODS: Seventeen NCAA Division I athletes participating in outdoor sports were recruited. Participants with base-line 25(OH)D below 30 ng/mL were supplemented with 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 once weekly for 12-weeks. Serum 25(OH)D was measured by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry following an intravenous blood draw. BMD was measured at baseline and postintervention using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Mean age was 21.1 (SD=1.0; range 18.7-22.5), and mean BMD was 1.37 (SD=0.14; range 1.189-1.695). In this sample, seven participants (41%) were supplemented with Vitamin D3. After adjustment for covariates, supple-mentation in vitamin D deficient athletes was associated with a significantly smaller change in BMD, as compared to no supplementation in non-deficient athletes (0=0.09, 95% CI: 0.018, 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: Both groups showed a decrease in BMD over the 12-week period, however, the non-supplement group had a significantly greater loss in BMD than their supplemented counterparts. Supplementing with vitamin D3 may help student-athletes retain bone density during periods of intense training. (Cite this article as: Parr JJ, Porter AK. Serum vitamin D influence on bone mineral density in collegiate athletes. Gazz Med Ital -Arch Sci Med 2023;182:680-5. DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.23.05027-1)