Washington, July 11: A new study has suggested that lack of Vitamin D might be a key reason behind the health problems and muscle injuries of athletes.

The research suggested that the vitamin deficiency makes athletes, specifically NFL football players, more prone to injuries.

“Eighty percent of the football team we studied had vitamin D insufficiency. African American players and players who suffered muscle injuries had significantly lower levels,” Michael Shindle, MD, lead researcher and member of Summit Medical Group, said.

Researchers experimented with 89 football players, with mean age of 25, from a single NFL team and provided laboratory testing of vitamin D levels in 2010 as part of routine pre-season evaluations.

The researchers evaluated the number of players who had lost time due to muscle injuries. Then they classified the Vitamin D level based on a player’s race and time lost due to muscle injury.

Twenty-seven players had deficient levels, and an additional 45 had levels consistent with insufficiency. Seventeen players had values within normal limits. Sixteen players suffered a muscle injury with a low vitamin D level of 19.9.

“Screening and treatment of vitamin D insufficiency in professional athletes may be a simple way to help prevent injuries,” Dr. Scott Rodeo, MD, Co-Chief of the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery, said.

The study is presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s (AOSSM) Annual Meeting in San Diego. (ANI)