title: Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and musculoskeletal injuries in professional football players.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and musculoskeletal injury (MI) in elite football players. In total, 54 male professional football players were recruited from an official Italian professional championship team between 2009 and 2013. The cohort was genotyped for theApaI,BsmI andFokI polymorphisms and MI data were collected over four football seasons. No significant differences were identified among the genotypes in the incidence rates or severity of MI (P=0.254). In addition, no significant associations were observed between VDR polymorphisms and MI phenotypes (P=0.460). However, the results of the casewise multiple regression analysis indicated that theApaI genotypes accounted for 18% of injury severity (P=0.002). Therefore, while theBsmI andFokI polymorphisms did not appear to be associated with the severity or incidence of MI, theApaI genotypes may have influenced the severity of muscle injury in top-level football players.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari 09100, Italy.
authors.forename: Myosotis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massidda
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari 09100, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corrias
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari 09100, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bachis
authors.affiliation: FMSI CR Sardegna and Cagliari Calcio SpA, Cagliari 09100, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cugia
authors.affiliation: FMSI CR Sardegna and Cagliari Calcio SpA, Cagliari 09100, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.affiliation: FMSI CR Sardegna and Cagliari Calcio SpA, Cagliari 09100, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scorcu
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari 09100, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Calò
keywords: ApaI; BsmI; FokI; elite athletes; genes; sport