Higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations associate with a faster recovery of skeletal muscle strength after muscular injury

Nutrients. 2013 Apr 17;5(4):1253-75. doi: 10.3390/nu5041253.

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to identify if serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations predict muscular weakness after intense exercise. We hypothesized that pre-exercise serum 25(OH)D concentrations inversely predict exercise-induced muscular weakness. Fourteen recreationally active adults participated in this study. Each subject had one leg randomly assigned as a control. The other leg performed an intense exercise protocol. Single-leg peak isometric force and blood 25(OH)D, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, albumin, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin-4 were measured prior to and following intense exercise. Following exercise, serum 25(OH)D concentrations increased (p < 0.05) immediately, but within minutes, subsequently decreased (p < 0.05). Circulating albumin increases predicted (p < 0.005) serum 25(OH)D increases, while IFN-γ increases predicted (p < 0.001) serum 25(OH)D decreases. Muscular weakness persisted within the exercise leg (p < 0.05) and compared to the control leg (p < 0.05) after the exercise protocol. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations inversely predicted (p < 0.05) muscular weakness (i.e., control leg vs. exercise leg peak isometric force) immediately and days (i.e., 48-h and 72-h) after exercise, suggesting the attenuation of exercise-induced muscular weakness with increasing serum 25(OH)D prior to exercise. Based on these data, we conclude that pre-exercise serum 25(OH)D concentrations could influence the recovery of skeletal muscle strength after an acute bout of intense exercise.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Exercise*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / blood
  • Interleukin-4 / blood
  • Isometric Contraction*
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Muscle Fatigue*
  • Muscle Strength*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Recovery of Function
  • Serum Albumin / metabolism
  • Serum Albumin, Human
  • Time Factors
  • Utah
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood

Substances

  • ALB protein, human
  • Biomarkers
  • IFNG protein, human
  • IL4 protein, human
  • Serum Albumin
  • Vitamin D
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Serum Albumin, Human