背景:文献中的数据证明了维生素D在人体中的关键作用,最近的研究也强调了维生素D在运动员中的重要作用。的确,维生素D作用于骨骼肌,并在涉及免疫功能的许多生理过程中起着基本作用。许多因素,如阳光照射,肤色,体重指数和慢性病影响维生素D水平。这项研究的目的是评估意大利职业足球运动员的维生素D水平,并调查在不同纬度训练的足球运动员中维生素D值的变化。
方法:进行的研究是一项回顾性观察性研究,分析了意大利甲级联赛(意甲)职业足球运动员的25-OH维生素D值。在竞争赛季中选择了两支球队:A队(意大利南部的纬度为41°N)和B队(意大利北部的纬度为45°N)。确定了三个时间段,并分类如下:第一季度(5月,六月,七月,August),第二季度(9月,十月,十一月,和12月)和第三季度(1月,二月,March,和四月)。这样做的目的是研究一年中维生素D的平均值,这些平均值对应于不同程度的阳光照射。在竞争赛季的四分之三中,每位运动员都要接受至少一次采样。
结果:在意大利意甲球员中发现了维生素D不足(10.1%)和明显缺乏(1.93%)。维生素D不足值在20ng/mL和29ng/mL之间,并且明显缺乏值<20ng/mL。同时,数据显示,根据比赛季节的时间段和两支球队所在城市的纬度,维生素D值存在显著差异.详细来说,第一季度没有显着差异,虽然在第二和第三季度,B组的维生素D值显著增加,分别为p<0.01和p<0.05。
结论:纬度和季节对维生素D水平有显著影响。因此,测量职业足球运动员的维生素D是必不可少的,尤其是在春季和冬季,以便监测与季节和纬度相关的水平变化,并评估任何补充剂。应该进行进一步的研究以评估维生素D缺乏与足球运动员运动表现之间的关系。
BACKGROUND: Data in the literature have demonstrated the crucial role that vitamin D plays in the human organism, and recent studies also emphasize this essential role of vitamin D in athletes. Indeed, vitamin D acts on the skeletal muscles and plays a fundamental role in numerous physiological processes involved in immune function. Many factors such as sun exposure, skin tone, body mass index and chronic illness affect vitamin D levels. The aim of the study is to evaluate vitamin D levels in professional football players in Italy and investigate the variations in vitamin D values in footballers who train at different latitudes.
METHODS: The study performed is a retrospective observational study analyzing 25-OH vitamin D values in professional football players of the Italian First Division (Serie A). Two teams during the competitive season were selected: team A (latitude of 41° N in southern Italy) and team B (latitude of 45° N in northern Italy). Three time periods were identified and were classified as follows: the first quarter (May, June, July, and August), the second quarter (September, October, November, and December) and the third quarter (January, February, March, and April). The purpose of this was to study the average values of vitamin D during the year corresponding to different levels of sunlight exposure. Each athlete was subjected to at least one sampling during the three quarters of the competitive season.
RESULTS: Both vitamin D insufficiency (10.1%) and overt deficiency (1.93%) were found in Italian Serie A players. Insufficient vitamin D values are between 20 ng/mL and 29 ng/mL and overt deficiency values <20 ng/mL. At the same time, the data demonstrated a significant variation in vitamin D values depending on the period of the competitive season and the latitude of the cities of the two teams. In detail, there was no significant difference in the first quarter, while there was a significant increase in vitamin D values in team B in the second and third quarter, at p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Latitude and seasons have a significant impact on vitamin D levels. Therefore, it is essential to measure vitamin D in professional football players, especially during the spring and winter months, so as to monitor changes in levels in relation to the season and latitude and evaluate any supplements. Further studies should be performed to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and football players\' athletic performance.