Abstract
Objective
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is produced by the exposure of the skin to sunlight. Therefore
athletes who train indoors, such as dancers, are vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in UK
professional dancers during periods of reduced and increased sunlight exposure (i.e.,
winter vs. summer), and to assess the impact on bone metabolism and risk of injury.
Design
Cohort study.
Methods
19 elite classical ballet dancers (age 26 ± 8.86 yr; height 1.66 ± 8.84 m; mass 54.3 ± 10.47 kg) were monitored over a 6 month period for 25-hydroxyvitamin D, PTH and blood serum
bone turnover markers (CTX and PINP) along with injury data. Repeated measure ANOVA
and Wilcoxon and Chi-square analyses were used and significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results
Significant changes were noted between the winter and summer test dates for 25-hydroxyvitamin
D (14.9 ng/ml vs. 23.9 ng/ml; p < 0.001), PTH (38.7 pg/ml vs. 26.3 pg/ml; p < 0.001) and PINP (89.9 ng/ml vs. 67.6 ng/ml; p < 0.01). The oral contraceptive had a significant effect on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin
D, PTH and CTX. Soft tissue injuries were significantly lower in summer compared to
winter period (winter = 24, summer = 13; p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Professional ballerinas characterized by a high incidence of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin
D levels which improve marginally in the summer. These dancers also demonstrate a
higher injury incidence in the winter. Oral contraception seems to increase serum
25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and has a positive effect on bone metabolism.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 04, 2013
Accepted:
December 22,
2012
Received in revised form:
December 10,
2012
Received:
August 23,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
