Abstract

90–95% of vitamin D which has the supreme function of regulating many metabolisms in tissues and organs, is taken from the sunlight through skin. Since wrestling is performed in sun-protected sports halls, we think that a vitamin D replacement will improve the performance of wrestlers, especially as the limited exposure to sunlight is compared to outdoor sports branches. The aim of our study is to increase the strength and endurance of male wrestlers by applying 25-Hydroxy vitamin D replacement together with general and wrestling-specific trainings for 8 weeks.

36 wrestlers participated in the study and were divided into two groups as subject and control groups. Group A (n: 18) was the exercise-subject group with a 25-hydroxy vitamin D replacement and group B (n: 18) was the exercise-control group without the vitamin D replacement applied. In the subject group, Devit-3 oral ampoule 1 ml (300,000 I.U.) replacement was applied to the wrestlers whose 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were below 20 ng/mL. Wrestlers were pre-tested one week before the replacement. After 8 weeks, they were post-tested and their vitamin D levels were measured again. Wrestlers in the control group were tested at the beginning and end of the 8-week training program without the vitamin D supplementation. In the analysis of the data, a Wilcoxon test and Mann Whitney test (one of the nonparametric tests) was used in accordance with the distribution width when the averages of the groups were evaluated in terms of significance with each other. The values that were p < 0.05 as the significance level of the data were accepted as statistically significant and the evaluations were made accordingly.

When the results of the analysis were examined, it was seen that 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels of the wrestlers increased from 13.85 ng/ml to 26.28 ng/ml after the replacement applied to the wrestlers in the subject group. It was observed that while vitamin D levels of the group increased, their aerobic endurance decreased to 132.22 ± 9.69 from 150.33 ± 20.98 (p < 0.05). Thus, their aerobic endurance improved statistically significant. No statistically significant value was obtained in the test analysis of the wrestlers in the control group.

The analysis results obtained from the study showed that the 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in athletes increased and their aerobic capacity also increased after vitamin D induction. It is possible to say that vitamin supplementation together with 8 weeks training program is more effective for athletes to improve their strength and endurance.

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