Carswell, Alexander T., Swinton, Paul, O’leary, Thomas J., Jackson, Sarah, Tang, Jonathan C. Y. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6305-6333, Oliver, Samuel J., Wentz, Laurel M., Izard, Rachel M., Taylor, Natalie, Allan, Donald, Rhodes, Lesley E., Walsh, Neil P., Fraser, William D. and Greeves, Julie P. (2026) Vitamin D supplementation and musculoskeletal injury risk in young men undergoing arduous training: a randomised placebo-controlled trial. British Journal of Nutrition. pp. 1-33. ISSN 0007-1145

Microsoft Word (OpenXML) (Carswell Vitamin D MSKI RCT BJN accepted) - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (494kB)

Abstract

In 250 men (21.4 ± 2.9 years; BMI 24.2 ± 3.0 kg∙m-2) commencing arduous military training during winter, we investigated the effect of 12 weeks vitamin D supplementation on lower body (pelvic girdle, sacrum, coccyx, and lower limb) overuse musculoskeletal injury risk in a randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Participants received either simulated sunlight (1.3× standard erythemal dose in T-shirt and shorts, three times per week for 4 weeks and then once per week for 8 weeks), oral vitamin D3 (1000 IU∙d-1 for 4 weeks and then 400 IU∙d-1 for 8 weeks), or placebo for each intervention. Serum vitamin D metabolites and bone metabolism biomarkers were measured at baseline, week 5, and 12. At baseline, 29% of participants were vitamin D sufficient (25-hydroxyvitamin D ≥50 nmol∙L-1). Vitamin D supplementation achieved vitamin D sufficiency in 95% of participants after 4 weeks. During 6 months of training and subsequent 3 years of military service, 100 lower body overuse musculoskeletal injuries were diagnosed by clinicians. Frailty models indicated no difference in injury risk between vitamin D and placebo during military training (HRplacebo:vitamin D = 1.23 [95% CI: 0.57–2.66], P = 0.597) or military service (HRplacebo:vitamin D = 0.94 [95% CI: 0.60–1.46], P = 0.782). Both safe simulated sunlight and oral vitamin D3 were effective in achieving and maintaining vitamin D sufficiency in almost all. There was no clear evidence for vitamin D to affect the risk of lower body overuse musculoskeletal injury during 6 months of military training or subsequent 3 years of military service.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Data availability: The data that support the findings of the study are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author pending approval from the UK Ministry of Defence.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	bone,exercise,muscle,nutrition,simulated sunlight
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Related URLs:	https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/i...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	15 Apr 2026 16:35
Last Modified:	25 Jul 2026 23:01
URI:	https://uea-test-2026.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/102785
DOI:	10.1017/S0007114526107107

Downloads

Actions (login required)

View Item