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Vitamin D Supplementation in Military Personnel: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Sports health
January 1, 2019
Gaya Sivakumar et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine the effects of vitamin D supplementation, combined with calcium, on serum 25(OH)D concentrations and musculoskeletal health outcomes in military personnel.

Results Summary

The study found that supplementation with 800 IU vitamin D and 2000 mg calcium significantly decreased stress fractures, particularly tibial fractures, in female Navy recruits. Higher doses of vitamin D also showed a positive trend in improving 25(OH)D concentrations in military submariners.

Population

Military personnel, specifically female Navy recruits and submariners.

Effective Dosage

2000 mg calcium (combined with 800 IU vitamin D daily).

Duration

Not specified in the abstract.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
2000 IU/d supplementation
increase
25(OH)D concentrations
military personnel
mean difference, 3.90 ng/mL; 95% CI, 0.22-7.58
improved
#1
daily supplementation of 800 IU vitamin D and 2000 mg calcium
decrease
stress fractures
female Navy recruits
risk ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.62-0.95
significant decrease
#2
daily supplementation of 800 IU vitamin D and 2000 mg calcium
decrease
tibial fractures
female Navy recruits
-
decrease
#3
higher doses of supplementary vitamin D
increase
25(OH)D concentrations
military submariners
-
positive trend
#4
vitamin D combined with calcium
increase
bone health
-
-
possible benefit
#5
Abstract

CONTEXT: Vitamin D supplementation is important in military research because of its role in musculoskeletal health. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review examined the effects of vitamin D supplementation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and musculoskeletal health outcomes in military personnel. DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SportDiscus, and the Cochrane Library databases and the reference lists of existing review articles and relevant studies. STUDY SELECTION: Reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts of the articles using predefined criteria. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. DATA EXTRACTION: Three reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the methodological quality. Mean differences with 95% CI in serum 25(OH)D concentrations between the vitamin D and placebo arms were calculated. RESULTS: Four RCTs were included in the qualitative analyses. The 25(OH)D concentrations were improved with 2000 IU/d supplementation (mean difference, 3.90 ng/mL; 95% CI, 0.22-7.58). A trial on female Navy recruits showed a significant decrease in stress fractures (risk ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.62-0.95), particularly tibial fractures, from daily supplementation of 800 IU vitamin D and 2000 mg calcium. CONCLUSION: There was a positive trend in 25(OH)D concentrations from higher doses of supplementary vitamin D in military submariners and a possible benefit to bone health when vitamin D was combined with calcium.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Calcium, DietaryDietary SupplementsFractures, StressHumansMilitary PersonnelMusculoskeletal SystemRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicVitamin D
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations8
Citations/Year1.3
Relative Citation Ratio0.80
NIH Percentile42.1%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.21
Normalized Score0.67
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