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A Systematic Review of the Role of Vitamin D on Neuromuscular Remodelling Following Exercise and Injury

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Abstract

Vitamin D is important for skeletal muscle health and deficiency is associated with clinical neuromuscular symptoms of poor strength and gait. Supplementation can independently increase muscle strength in chronically deficient populations. However, the regulatory role of vitamin D on neuromuscular remodelling and adaptation subsequent to exercise conditioning or injury has not been systematically reviewed. Objective: to systematically review the available evidence of the role of vitamin D on neuromuscular remodelling following exercise conditioning, exercise- or experimentally induced injury. We searched Medline (OVID platform), PubMed, Embase and Web of Science for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) including measures of neuromuscular function, injury and/or inflammation; a physiologically stressful intervention involving exercise conditioning, exercise- or experimentally induced injury and; vitamin D supplementation. Nine RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Significant heterogeneity of methodological approaches and outcomes meant that meta-analysis of data was limited. Qualitative findings indicated that vitamin D may be an effective accelerant of neuromuscular remodelling in animal models (24–140 % improved recovery vs. control); the effects in humans are inconclusive and likely influenced by baseline vitamin D and supplementation strategy. Results of the meta-analyses indicated no effect of vitamin D supplementation on muscle strength adaptation following resistance training [standardised mean difference (SMD): 0.74, P = 0.42] or muscle damage (SMD: −0.03, P = 0.92), although inflammatory markers were elevated in the latter (SMD: 0.56, P = 0.04). Data from animal models offer promising and plausible mechanisms for vitamin D as an agent for neuromuscular adaptation. Further high-quality research is needed to offer clearer insight into the influential role of vitamin D in human populations.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to sincerely thank librarian Mrs Sheila Fisken for her help with setting up the search strategy for this review.

Author Contributions

Author #1 designed and conducted the systematic literature review, analysed the data and prepared the first draft of the paper. She is guarantor. Authors #3 and #4 contributed to the data analysis and systematic review. All authors contributed to and revised the paper critically for intellectual content and approved the final version. All authors agree to be accountable for the work and to ensure that any questions relating to the accuracy and integrity of the paper are investigated and properly resolved.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health Sciences, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, EH21 6UU, UK

    Claire Minshull & Nigel Gleeson

  2. School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK

    Claire Minshull, Leela C. Biant & Stuart H. Ralston

  3. Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA, UK

    Leela C. Biant

  4. Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK

    Stuart H. Ralston

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  1. Claire Minshull
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  4. Nigel Gleeson
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Correspondence to Claire Minshull.

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Conflict of Interest

Claire Minshull, Leela C Biant, Stuart H. Ralston, and Nigel Gleeson declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Minshull, C., Biant, L.C., Ralston, S.H. et al. A Systematic Review of the Role of Vitamin D on Neuromuscular Remodelling Following Exercise and Injury. Calcif Tissue Int 98, 426–437 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-015-0099-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-015-0099-x

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