A new study shows that NFL players with muscle injuries are more likely to be deficient in vitamin D.
Researchers studied 89 pro football players ages 21 to 32, and vitamin D deficiency was detected in 27 of them. Vitamin D is created naturally in the body when sunlight hits the skin.
Players with muscle injuries averaged 19.9 nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood, significantly less than players who did not have such injuries.
Dr. Michael Shindle presented the news during the annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine in San Diego.
Dr. Scott Rodeo, of the Hospital for Special Surgery, said screening for vitamin D insufficiency in professional athletes might be an easy way to prevent injuries.
Added Dr. Joseph Lane, also of the Hospital for Special Surgery, “Further research also needs to be conducted in order to determine if increasing vitamin D leads to improved maximum muscle function.”