Gilic, BarbaraKosor, JelenaJimenez-Pavon, DavidMarkic, JoskoKarin, ZeljkaDomic, Daniela SupeSekulic, Damir2022-09-092022-09-092021-08-05Gilic B, Kosor J, Jimenez-Pavon D, Markic J, Karin Z, Domic DS, et al. Associations of Vitamin D Levels with Physical Fitness and Motor Performance; A Cross-Sectional Study in Youth Soccer Players from Southern Croatia. Biology. 2021 Aug 5;10(8):751http://hdl.handle.net/10668/4024Vitamin D level is known to be a factor potentially influencing physical fitness, but few studies have examined this phenomenon among youth athletes. We aimed to evaluate the associations of vitamin D levels (as measured by 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations-25(OH)D) with various physical fitness and motor performance tests in youth football (soccer) players. This cross-sectional study included a total of 52 youth soccer players (15.98 ± 2.26 years old) from Southern Croatia. The participants were evaluated at the end of the winter period and data were collected of anthropometric measures (body mass and body height), vitamin D status (25(OH)D levels), physical fitness tests (sprints of 10 and 20 m, 20 yards test, the countermovement jump, the reactive strength index (RSI)) and motor performance tests (the soccer-specific CODS, the soccer-specific agility, and static balance). Among the studied players, 54% had 25(OH)D insufficiency/deficiency, showing a lack of 25(OH)D is widespread even in youth athletes living at a southern latitude. The 25(OH)D level was correlated with sprint 20 m, 20 yards tests, and RSI, showing a greater role of 25(OH)D in physical fitness tests where energetic capacity is essential than in sport-related motor performance tests where skills are crucial. Our results support the idea that vitamin D can play a determinant role in physical fitness tests with a clear physiological component, but is not crucial in motor performance tests related to specific sports where skills are a key component. Future studies should investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on the performance in physical fitness and motor performance tests among youth athletes.enAtribución 4.0 InternacionalAtribución 4.0 InternacionalAtribución 4.0 Internacionalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/25(OH)DPhysiology of performancesPubertyPre-planned agilityNon-planned agilityCalcitriolFisiologíaPubertadVitamina DEstudios transversalesAptitud físicaMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Persons::Persons::Age Groups::AdolescentMedical Subject Headings::Anthropology, Education, Sociology and Social Phenomena::Human Activities::Leisure Activities::Recreation::Sports::SoccerMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic::Epidemiologic Studies::Cross-Sectional StudiesMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Polycyclic Compounds::Steroids::Cholestanes::Sterols::Ergocalciferols::25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2Medical Subject Headings::Anthropology, Education, Sociology and Social Phenomena::Human Activities::Leisure Activities::Recreation::Sports::FootballMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Physiological Phenomena::Body Constitution::Body Weights and Measures::Body Size::Body HeightMedical Subject Headings::Geographical Locations::Geographic Locations::Europe::Europe, Eastern::CroatiaMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena::Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena::Physical FitnessMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Fishes::GadiformesMedical Subject Headings::Persons::Persons::Athletesresearch article34439983open access10.3390/biology100807512079-7737PMC8389772