Many studies have shown that vitamin D is important for strong bones and reduce the risk or prevent many internal cancers like breast and colon cancer. But this study for the first time provides evidence of a linear relationship between vitamin D levels, not only with jumping performance, but also with aerobic capacity and speed in non-supplemented soccer players, as the scientists state.
In their study the scientists around Nikolaos E. Koundourakis tested the exercise performance of sixty-seven Caucasian male soccer players, who are members of two Greek Superleague Soccer teams and one Football-league championship team. The testing involved the determination of squat jump, countermovement jump, 10 and 20 meters sprint performance, maximal oxygen consumption, anthropometry, and blood sampling before and after the six-week off-season period.
According to the scientists the results of the study show a significant positive correlation between vitamin D levels and both jumping ability and maximal oxygen consumption in professional soccer players.
"The study shows that vitamin D plays a supportive role in athletic performance. Especially in highly competitive athletes the importance of vitamin D should not be underestimated, since in elite athletic level slight changes in performance may determine the outcome of a competition. This might be the reason that soccer clubs such as Manchester United are using tanning beds to boost performance", Ad Brand, spokesperson for the Sunlight Research Forum (SRF), explains.
Source:
1) Nikolaos E. Koundourakis, Nikolaos E. Androulakis, [...], and Andrew N. Margioris: Vitamin D and Exercise Performance in Professional Soccer Players. Published online Jul 3, 2014. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101659
2) Kate A Ward, Geeta Das, Jacqueline L Berry, Stephen A Roberts, Rainer Rawer, Judith E Adams, Zulf Mughal:Vitamin D and muscle function. J Clin Endocrin Metab. First published ahead of print November 25, 2008 as doi:10.1210/jc.2008-1284
3) John J. Cannell, Bruce W. Hollis, Marc B. Sorenson, Timothy N. Taft, and John J. B. Anderson: Athletic Performance and Vitamin D. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 41, No. 5, pp. 1102-1110, 2009
In their study the scientists around Nikolaos E. Koundourakis tested the exercise performance of sixty-seven Caucasian male soccer players, who are members of two Greek Superleague Soccer teams and one Football-league championship team. The testing involved the determination of squat jump, countermovement jump, 10 and 20 meters sprint performance, maximal oxygen consumption, anthropometry, and blood sampling before and after the six-week off-season period.
According to the scientists the results of the study show a significant positive correlation between vitamin D levels and both jumping ability and maximal oxygen consumption in professional soccer players.
"The study shows that vitamin D plays a supportive role in athletic performance. Especially in highly competitive athletes the importance of vitamin D should not be underestimated, since in elite athletic level slight changes in performance may determine the outcome of a competition. This might be the reason that soccer clubs such as Manchester United are using tanning beds to boost performance", Ad Brand, spokesperson for the Sunlight Research Forum (SRF), explains.
Source:
1) Nikolaos E. Koundourakis, Nikolaos E. Androulakis, [...], and Andrew N. Margioris: Vitamin D and Exercise Performance in Professional Soccer Players. Published online Jul 3, 2014. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101659
2) Kate A Ward, Geeta Das, Jacqueline L Berry, Stephen A Roberts, Rainer Rawer, Judith E Adams, Zulf Mughal:Vitamin D and muscle function. J Clin Endocrin Metab. First published ahead of print November 25, 2008 as doi:10.1210/jc.2008-1284
3) John J. Cannell, Bruce W. Hollis, Marc B. Sorenson, Timothy N. Taft, and John J. B. Anderson: Athletic Performance and Vitamin D. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 41, No. 5, pp. 1102-1110, 2009
