Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Strength, Bone Density, and Injury Risk in Collegiate Athletes

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Status and phase: Completed; Early Phase 1

Conditions: Vitamin D Deficiency

Treatments: Drug: Vitamin D 5000 UNT; Drug: Vitamin D 10000 UNT

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03151174

17-009

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

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.

Enrollment: 68 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• athlete for a sanctioned Virginia Tech sport

Exclusion criteria

• pregnant or trying to become pregnant, currently taking vitamin D (>600IU/day), calcium (>1000mg/dl), taking any performance enhancing supplements (example, creatine), or any other medication or nutritional supplements that might influence the study variables, cardiac or thyroid problems, have diabetes, or epilepsy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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68 participants in 3 patient groups

Vitamin D - 10000IU

Experimental group

Description:

These individuals have been categorized as Vitamin D deficient and will receive 10000IU of Vitamin D per day.

Treatment:

Drug: Vitamin D 10000 UNT

Vitamin D - 5000IU

Experimental group

Description:

These individuals have been categorized as Vitamin D insufficient and will receive 5000IU of Vitamin D per day.

Treatment:

Drug: Vitamin D 5000 UNT

Placebo

No Intervention group

Description:

These individuals have been categorized as Vitamin D sufficient and will receive placebo.