Associations between Vitamin D Levels and Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Male Athletes

Background and purpose: Association between vitamin D and anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACLI) in male athletes is poorly understood, and current data are not sufficient and consistent. The present study investigated the association between vitamin D and ACLI in some Iranian male athletes. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 100 male athletes with knee pain attending Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital, Iran 2016. They were evaluated into two groups: male athletes with ACL injury (AI group; n=50) and without ACL injury (WAI group; n=50). ACL injury was verified according to physical examination and MRI findings. Data, including the age, serum 25 (OH) D concentrations, body mass index (BMI), and previous history of exercise were recorded and analyzed in SPSS V20. Results: The mean age of participants and their serum 25 (OH) D levels were 28±6 years and 25.07±1.02 ng/dl, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in mean age, BMI, and previous history of exercise (P> 0.05). The mean serum 25 (OH) D levels were found to be significantly lower in AI group than those in WAI group (P< 0.001). Conclusion: The current study showed that lower serum concentrations of 25 (OH) D are associated with the risk of ACLI in male athletes.