The goal of this study is to determine whether Vitamin D supplementation improves strength and bone density, and reduces the risk of injury in collegiate athletes.
Vitamin D is a hormone that is important for bone and muscle health. As such, not having enough vitamin D in your body is associated with increased risk of injury and reduced health and athletic performance. It is often recommended that individuals who have low levels of vitamin D take vitamin D supplements. However, the effects of vitamin D supplementation on health and strength gains in collegiate athletes are not known. The goal of this study is to determine whether vitamin D supplementation increases strength and bone density, while reducing the risk of injury in collegiate athletes. Fasting vitamin D concentrations will be measured and athletes will be supplemented daily with Vitamin D for 8-12 weeks. The amount of supplementation will depend on whether the athlete is categorized as sufficient (\>30ng/ml), insufficient (20-35ng/ml), or deficient (\<20ng/ml). Vitamin D concentrations, strength, bone density, and injury risk will be assessed before and after the intervention period.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
68
10000 IU Vitamin D per day
5000 IU Vitamin D per day
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia, United States
Strength
Overall strength assessed via maximal strength testing. The specific tests may include the following, 1) one repetition max bench press (lbs) -, 2) one repetition max squat (lbs), 3) vertical jump test (feet), 4) broad jump test (feet), 5) dead lifts (lbs and repetition), 6) pull ups (repetition), 7) dips (repetition), and 8) shuttle time (test involving repeated sprints to and from marked points or lines - minutes/ seconds).
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
Femur Bone Density
Bone Density will be assessed in spine using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. T-scores will be determined.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
Spine Bone Density
Bone Density will be assessed in the hip (proximal femur) using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. T-scores will be determined.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
Injury Occurence
New and current Injuries including bone breaks, muscle strains and sprains will be tracked via a questionnaire that will be filled out weekly. Subjects will report whether they had an injury, where the injury occurred on the body, the type of injury, as well as the date/ time of the injury and how the injury occurred. Number of injury
Time frame: Every week for up to 12 weeks
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