Vitamin D₃ supplementation reduces serum markers of bone resorption and muscle damage in female basketball players with vitamin D inadequacy

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D₃ supplementation at a dose of 4,000 IU/day for 6 weeks on serum levels of: 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], bone turnover [osteocalcin and carboxy-terminal telopeptides of crosslinks of type I collagen (CTx-I)], and muscle damage [lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK)] in middle adolescent (15-18 years) and late-adolescent to early adulthood (19-30 years) female basketball players with inadequate vitamin D status. Participants (N=24) were randomly assigned in a double-blind manner into a vitamin D or placebo group. Data were analyzed using separate 2×2x2 mixed ANOVAs with one within-subjects factor (time) and two between-subjects factors (condition and age). When a significant interaction was observed, the intra-group changes were assessed using paired t tests and Hedge's g. Paired t-tests comparing intra-group changes in the vitamin D condition revealed a non-significant large improvement in 25(OH)D (p = 0.06; g = 0.86), non-significant small decreases in CTx-I (p = 0.13; g = −0.22) and CK (p = 0.07; g = −0.26), as well as a significant moderate decrease in LDH (p = 0.004; g = −0.74). Paired t-tests comparing intra-group changes in the placebo condition revealed a significant moderate decline in 25(OH)D (p <0.001; g = −0.77), as well as significant small increases in CTx-I (p = 0.04; g = 0.47) and CK (p = 0.04; g = 0.36). Vitamin D₃ supplementation at 4,000 IU/day could be effective in reducing bone resorption and muscle damage in female basketball players with inadequate baseline vitamin D, irrespective of age.

KEYWORDS:

• 25(OH)D
• athletes
• creatine kinase
• lactate dehydrogenase
• bone metabolism
• vitamin D insufficient

Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank the female basketball players who volunteered for this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac (JP 18/20) and Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (451-03-9/2021-14/200228).