Can Supplementation of Vitamin D Improve Aerobic Capacity in Well Trained Youth Soccer Players?
Open accessAbstract
There is no clear evidence that vitamin D effectively improves physical capacity in high-level athletes. The aim of this study was to confirm that vitamin D supplementation of soccer players during eight-week high-intensity training would have a significant effect on their aerobic capacity. The subjects were divided into two groups: the experimental one that was supplemented with vitamin D (SG, n = 20), and the placebo group (PG, n = 16), not supplemented with vitamin D. All the players were subjected to the same soccer training described as High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). The data of the vitamin D level, PWC170, lactate threshold (LT) were collected just before and after the intervention. A significant increase in vitamin D concentration (119%) was observed in the supplemented group, while the non-supplemented group showed a decrease of 8.4%. The studied subjects improved VO2max results by 20% in the SG, and by 13% in the PG. The improvement in velocity at the LT was similar in both groups. Results of this study show that vitamin D can have a positive, though moderate, effect on aerobic performance in players subjected to high-intensity training in the form of small-sided games for 8 weeks.
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The effects of a high dose of vitamin D3 supplementation (5000 IU/day) for eight weeks on aerobic capacity expressed as VO2max was demonstrated by Jastrzebska et al. in professional Polish soccer players who showed a significant increase in VO2max.
“The effects of a high dose of vitamin D3 supplementation (5000 IU/day) for eight weeks on aerobic capacity expressed as VO2max was demonstrated by Jastrzebska et al. [7] in professional Polish soccer players who showed a significant increase in VO2max.”
From Influence of Sunlight and Oral D3 Supplementation on Serum 25(OH)D Concentration and Exercise Performance in Elite Soccer Players (2020) · cites this paper as [7]
Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn athletes, a serum 25(OH)D concentration <30 ng/mL may negatively affect aerobic and anaerobic performance, androgen hormone concentration and fat mass.
“In athletes, a serum 25(OH)D concentration <30 ng/mL may negatively affect aerobic and anaerobic performance, androgen hormone concentration and fat mass [3,7,8].”
From Influence of Sunlight and Oral D3 Supplementation on Serum 25(OH)D Concentration and Exercise Performance in Elite Soccer Players (2020) · cites this paper as [7]
The Results and Discussion (pages unavailable) support a possible link between vitamin D and aerobic performance in youth soccer players; the Discussion also reports a suggestion that higher vitamin D may improve testosterone concentration. The paper does not establish the claimed <30 ng/mL threshold or an effect on fat mass or anaerobic performance. Its ‘anaerobic threshold’ measure is described as an index of aerobic capacity. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredA high correlation was found between aerobic capacity and high vitamin D concentration, both naturally and as a result of supplementation.
“In this sense, a high correlation was found between aerobic capacity and high vitamin D concentration, both naturally and as a result of supplementation [7].”
From Influence of Sunlight and Oral D3 Supplementation on Serum 25(OH)D Concentration and Exercise Performance in Elite Soccer Players (2020) · cites this paper as [7]
The Discussion reports improved aerobic-capacity measures after vitamin D supplementation, and the Introduction cites some positive correlations between vitamin D and VO2max. But the Discussion’s statement about a high correlation under both natural and supplemented conditions concerns anaerobic capacity, not aerobic capacity; the Introduction describes evidence for aerobic correlations as ambiguous. The paper does not establish the claimed high aerobic correlation under both conditions. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredOral vitamin D supplementation is an alternative to obtain adequate levels of 25(OH)D3 all year round, but especially during the winter season.
“Our data confirm previous results, where oral vitamin D supplementation has been suggested as an alternative to obtain adequate levels of 25(OH)D3 all year round, but especially during the winter season [2,7,20].”
From Influence of Sunlight and Oral D3 Supplementation on Serum 25(OH)D Concentration and Exercise Performance in Elite Soccer Players (2020) · cites this paper as [7]
The Results report that oral supplementation raised 25(OH)D from an inadequate baseline to a higher level in youth soccer players during an eight-week late-winter study. The Discussion recommends supplementation for players with low levels, especially in winter. The paper does not establish that supplementation maintains adequate levels all year round. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredMost scientists agree that vitamin D supplementation is recommended during the winter season in athletes living in Central and Northern European countries.
“Most scientists agree that vitamin D supplementation is recommended during the winter season in athletes living in Central and Northern European countries [2,7,8,12].”
From Influence of Sunlight and Oral D3 Supplementation on Serum 25(OH)D Concentration and Exercise Performance in Elite Soccer Players (2020) · cites this paper as [7]
The Discussion recommends supplementation for players with low vitamin D levels, especially those training in winter in countries with low solar radiation. The Methods identifies Central and Northern European countries as having low sun exposure. The paper does not establish that most scientists agree or recommend supplementation for all athletes living there. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Vitamin D supplementation in a high dose of 5000 IU per day for 8 weeks improved vertical jump height, 10 m sprint times and VO2max in competitive soccer players.
“In the studies of Jastrzebska [7] and Close [14], vitamin D supplementation in a high dose of 5000 IU per day for 8 weeks improved vertical jump height, 10 m sprint times and VO2max in competitive soccer players [7,14].”
From Influence of Sunlight and Oral D3 Supplementation on Serum 25(OH)D Concentration and Exercise Performance in Elite Soccer Players (2020) · cites this paper as [7]
The Methods (Procedures; page unavailable) specify approximately 5000 IU of vitamin D3 daily for eight weeks, and the Discussion (page unavailable) reports greater VO2max improvement in supplemented than non-supplemented youth soccer players. The paper does not report improved vertical jump height or 10 m sprint times; its reported outcomes concern aerobic capacity. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn Jastrzebska's study, after a dose of 5000 IU/day and after high-intensity soccer training, subjects improved their VO2max values by 20%.
“In Jastrzebska’s [7] study, after a dose of 5000 IU/day and after high-intensity soccer training, subjects improved their VO2max values by 20%.”
From Influence of Sunlight and Oral D3 Supplementation on Serum 25(OH)D Concentration and Exercise Performance in Elite Soccer Players (2020) · cites this paper as [7]
Supplementing soccer players with vitamin D improves their aerobic capacity as well as speed and explosive power.
“In previous research, it has been proven that supplementing soccer players with vitamin D improves their aerobic capacity [7] as well as speed and explosive power [2].”
From Influence of Sunlight and Oral D3 Supplementation on Serum 25(OH)D Concentration and Exercise Performance in Elite Soccer Players (2020) · cites this paper as [7]
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Cites
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Michalczyk, M. M., Gołaś, A., Maszczyk, A., Kaczka, P., & Zając, A. (2020) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu12051311 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Self-citationJordan, S. L., Albracht-Schulte, K., & Robert-McComb, J. J. (2020) · PharmaNutrition · doi:10.1016/j.phanu.2020.100229 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
- Authors
- Jastrzębska, M., Kaczmarczyk, M., Michalczyk, M., Radzimiński, Ł., Stępień, P., Jastrzębska, J., Wakuluk, D., Suárez, A. D., López Sánchez, G. F., Cięszczyk, P., Godlewski, P., Król, P., & Jastrzębski, Z.
- Affiliations
- University Clinical Centre of Gdańsk , Gdańsk , Poland
- Pomeranian Medical University (PL)
- Akademii Wychowania Fizycznego im. Jerzego Kukuczki w Katowicach (PL)
- Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport (PL)
- Higher Sport School in Lodz , Lodz , Poland
- Gdańsk Medical University (PL)
- Universidad de Murcia (ES)
- Faculty of Sport Sciences , University of Murcia , Murcia , Spain
- University of Rzeszów (PL)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Human Kinetics
- Publisher
- Termedia Sp. z.o.o.
- Published
- 2018-03-12
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 63-72
- ISSN
- 1640-5544 (ISSN-L)
- 1899-7562
- PMC
- PMC5873337
- OpenAlex
- W2794784057
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 4.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Human Kinetics (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Vitamin D Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- vitamin D supplementation, cardiorespiratory fitness, youth football players, high-intensity interval training, VO2max, lactate threshold, PWC170, vitamin D levels, small-sided games, athletic performance
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