%0 Journal Article
%T Vitamin D levels and bone mineral density of middle-aged premenopausal female football and volleyball players in Japan: a cross-sectional study.
%A Sakamoto K
%A Miyamori T
%A Someya Y
%A Nagao M
%A Ishihara Y
%A Kobayashi Y
%A Shimasaki Y
%A Imai J
%A Ono T
%A Ikeda H
%A Tashima K
%A Yoshimura M
%J BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil
%V 16
%N 1
%D 2024 Jul 2
%M 38956731
%F 2.367
%R 10.1186/s13102-024-00938-x
%X BACKGROUND: The number of football teams in senior categories has increased. As outdoor sports entail players being exposed to sunlight, playing football may contribute to maintaining vitamin D stores and body mineral density while preventing osteoporosis. This study aimed to determine the bone mineral density and vitamin D levels in middle-aged premenopausal female football players.
METHODS: Participants were premenopausal females in their 40s. We evaluated bone mineral density of the second to the fourth lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck, serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) levels, which is an indicator of vitamin D stores, and body composition. In addition, we administered a questionnaire survey on exercise habits and lifestyle. Ninety-two participants were categorised into three groups: the football group (n = 27), volleyball group (n = 40), and non-exercise group (n = 25).
RESULTS: Bone mineral density was higher in the football and volleyball groups than in the non-exercise group (P < 0.01). The volleyball group had a significantly higher bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and femoral neck than the non-exercise group (P < 0.01). The football group had a significantly higher bone mineral density of the femoral neck than the non-exercise group (P < 0.01). Although the football group had played fewer years than the volleyball group (P < 0.01), serum 25-OHD levels were the highest in the football group and were significantly higher than those in the volleyball and non-exercise groups (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged premenopausal football players had higher body vitamin D levels and bone mineral densities than non-active females. These results suggest that playing football may contribute to the prevention of osteoporosis.
BACKGROUND: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000054235. 2024/04/23. Retrospectively registered.