Characterization of skeletal parameters in a cohort of North Italian rugby players.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D deficiency is common in the general population and may impair skeletal muscle function. Very few data are available regarding this condition in professional athletes.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate some skeletal parameters and in particular serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in professional rugby players during two different sunlight exposure times (October and early April) and to assess its impact on bone metabolism.


METHODS
Twenty-one male healthy professional rugby players living in northern Italy at latitude of 44°55'N (age 24.6 ± 4.3 years; height 182.0 ± 0.05 cm; mass 96.3 ± 14.6 kg; BMI 28.9 ± 3.7 kg/m(2)) participated in this observational study. During 2012/2013 Italian rugby season, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, PTH and other related biochemical parameters were monitored. Dietary calcium intake and body composition by DXA were also evaluated.


RESULTS
Significant changes were observed between October and April data for 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration (22.8 ± 5.8 vs. 19.1 ± 5.3 ng/ml; p = 0.001) whereas serum PTH, calcium and phosphorus plasma levels did not change. They presented with an appropriate daily intake of calcium (1,304.8 ± 477.9 mg; max 1,939 mg; min 228 mg).


CONCLUSIONS
Professional rugby athletes practicing a sport characterized by intense outdoor training and with good calcium intake are at higher risk of hypovitaminosis D that worsens significantly during times of low cutaneous vitamin D production. Further studies are warranted to evaluate whether an appropriate supplementation with cholecalciferol in professional athletes is needed.
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Azienda Ospedaliera/Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43125, Parma, Italy.
B
B
Caroli
F
F
Pasin
R
R
Aloe
C
C
Gnocchi
A
A
Dei Cas
C
C
Galli
G
G
Passeri
D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D