DOES VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVE PHYSICAL COMPONENTS IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETES REGARDING STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, AND POWER?

Abstract

At Brewton-Parker College, most students are collegiate National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics athletes. The high level of competition creates a desire for improvement that can result in athletes exercising more or engaging in dangerous supplement practices. Low vitamin D levels are associated with low muscle mass and loss of muscle strength. The goal of this study was to discover if a significant relationship exists between vitamin D supplementation and muscle strength, power, and endurance. The 6-week study included 15 participants (14 male and 1 female). All participants performed a pre-test of a one-repetition maximum on the bench press to determine muscular strength, a broad jump to measure muscular power, and a push-up to failure muscular endurance test. The participants were then randomly separated into experimental and control groups, with the experimental group checking in once a week for six weeks to receive Vitamin D (10,000 IU) supplementation. After six weeks, post-tests were performed. Independent t-tests indicated there is no statistically significant difference in the means of muscle power (p = .13), muscle strength (p = .69), or muscle endurance (p = .33) between supplemented and non-supplemented groups. Paired t-tests indicated there is no statistically significant association between muscle power (p = .13), muscle strength (p = .71), muscle endurance (p = .94), and vitamin D supplementation. The hypothesis that Vitamin D supplementation will exhibit a positive correlation with muscular strength, power, and endurance in collegiate athletes is rejected, suggesting that Vitamin D supplementation does not enhance muscular strength, power, or endurance in collegiate athletes