Vitamin D Deficiency Does Not Impair Diastolic Function in Elite Athletes

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Sports Medicine
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Regular exercise induces cardiovascular adaptations known as "athlete's heart."
• Previous research focused on morphological and functional cardiac changes in athletes.
• The link between vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]) and cardiac parameters in athletes is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum 25(OH)D levels and echocardiographic parameters in male athletes.
• To evaluate cardiac structure and function in professional and recreational athletes across different sports disciplines.

Main Methods:

• Case-control study involving 93 male athletes (professional and recreational).
• Serum 25(OH)D levels measured by LC-MS/MS.
• Electrocardiography (ECG) and transthoracic echocardiography used to assess cardiac parameters.

Main Results:

• Athletes displayed increased left ventricular interventricular septum (IVS) and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWd) compared to controls.
• Significant variations in diastolic function parameters (E, A, E/A ratio) were found among athlete subgroups.
• No significant correlation was observed between 25(OH)D levels and echocardiographic diastolic parameters.

Conclusions:

• Serum 25(OH)D levels do not appear to influence echocardiographic diastolic parameters in athletes.
• Distinct cardiac structural and functional adaptations are evident across different athletic disciplines.
• Further research is warranted to explore the long-term impact of vitamin D on athletic cardiac performance.