Problems with tendon connecting bicep to elbow occur 2.6 X more often in people with low vitamin D (200,000 people) – Aug 2024

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Association of Vitamin D Deficiency With Distal Biceps Injury: A Retrospective Analysis of 336,320 Patients

Sports Health. 2024;0(0). doi:10.1177/19417381241273453
Surya Khatri, BA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3852-4702 surya_khatri@brown.edu, J. Alex Albright, BS, ….

Background:
This study explores the association between vitamin D deficiency and distal biceps tendon injuries, illustrating that, although vitamin D deficiency is associated with prolonged hospital stays and various musculoskeletal problems, its connection to distal biceps tendon injuries is unknown.

Hypothesis:
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an elevated risk of distal biceps injury but not with increased rates of subsequent surgery or revision surgery.

Methods:
A 1:1 matched retrospective comparative study of 336,320 vitamin-D-deficient patients was performed using PearlDiver data (between January 1, 2011 and October 31, 2018). Cohorts, with a mean age of 55.7 ± 13.2 years, underwent multivariate logistic regression to calculate distal biceps tendon injury and surgical repair incidence according to age and sex, while controlling for demographics and comorbidities.

Results:
The 1-year incidence of distal biceps tendinopathy in vitamin-D-deficient patients was 118 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI) compared with 44.3 per 100,000 person-years in matched controls. Male patients with vitamin D deficiency were at a greater risk for distal biceps tendinopathy after 1 and 2 years (adjusted odds ratio aOR = 2.81, 2.08-3.83; aOR = 2.80, 2.21-3.56). Female patients were also at a greater risk after both years (aOR = 1.69, 1.27-2.27; aOR = 1.57, 1.26-1.96). Vitamin D deficiency was not associated with an elevated risk of surgical repair or revision surgery.

Conclusion:
In a nationwide cohort, a diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency elevated the risk of distal biceps tendinopathy but did not raise the rate of surgical repair or revision. As a result, prevention strategies in the form of vitamin supplementation should be increased for athletes.
Clinical Relevance: These findings emphasize the clinical relevance of monitoring vitamin D levels in patients at risk for musculoskeletal injuries, and providing adequate care to those involved in high-demand physical activities.
Strength of Recommendation: B.

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VitaminDwiki – Muscles and Vitamin D - many studies contains

To build muscles you need more than just Vitamin D
   also need Exercise, Protein, Magnesium, Omega-3, and activated Vitamin D Receptors
     In fact, Vitamin D monotherapy sometimes DECREASES muscles.
Notes on Vitamin D Receptor:
Vitamin D Receptors get vitamin D in the blood to the muscle cells
Approximately 20% of people have poor vitamin D receptors
As people age, their Vitamin D receptors also become less activated
There are 12+ low-cost activators for the Vitamin D Receptor
138+ VitaminDWiki pages have MUSCLE in the title
Dr. Greger on Vitamin D and Muscles - May 2020
Vitamin D Supplements for Increasing Aging Muscle Strength

• "We have known for more than 400 years that muscle weakness is a common presenting symptom of vitamin D deficiency"
• conservative "U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the official prevention guideline setting body, and the American Geriatric Society to “recommend vitamin D supplementation for persons who are at high risk of falls.”
• AGS recommends 4,000 IU to capture 92 percent of the population"

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VitaminDWiki – Overview Sports and vitamin D contains

Athletes are helped by vitamin D by:

1. Faster reaction time
2. Far fewer colds/flus during the winter
3. Less sore/tired after a workout
4. Fewer micro-cracks and broken bones
5. Bones which do break heal much more quickly
6. Increased VO2 and exercise endurance Feb 2011
7. Indoor athletes especially need vitamin D
8. Professional indoor athletes are starting to take vitamin D and/or use UV beds
9. Olympic athletes have used UV/vitamin D since the 1930's
10. The biggest gain from the use of vitamin D is by those who exercise less than 2 hours per day.
11. Reduced muscle fatigue with 10,000 IU vitamin D daily
12. Muscle strength improved when vitamin D added: 3 Meta-analysis
13. Reduced Concussions
    See also: Sports and Vitamin D category 279 items

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VitaminDWiki – Sports category contains

279 items in Sports category

Sports benefits from up to 50 ng (click on chart for details)

see also:
Overview Sports and vitamin D     Concussions
Military    Muscle    Overview Fractures and vitamin D
Vitamin D supplementation increases strength of lower muscles – Meta-analysis April 2019
Athletes helped by weekly 50,000 IU Vitamin D – RCT Aug 2019
College swimmers helped by daily 5,000 IU of Vitamin D in the fall – RCT Feb 2020
Shin splints decrease with vitamin D
Less muscle inflammation after exercise if high level of Vitamin D (50 ng) -July 2021 50 ng
Only 1 NCAA basketball player getting 10,000 IU vitamin D daily achieved 50 ng goal – Jan 2020 50 ng
NCAA trainers are getting on board the Vitamin D train (40-50 ng)– Nov 2019 50 ng
Is 50 ng of vitamin D too high, just right, or not enough 50 ng
The only independent predictor of aerobic power: Vitamin D - 2021
Olympic Committee consensus on Vitamin D, Omega-3, Zinc, etc– May 2018 not consdered "doping"
Some Foot and ankle problems are treated by Vitamin D – many studies
Typical stress fracture during US Navy training cost 14,953 dollars, most had less than 40 ng Vitamin D - June 2022
Vitamin D trials by military – all 4 found benefit – review Sept 2019
Vitamin D supplementation increases strength of lower muscles – Meta-analysis April 2019
Omega-3 helps muscles - many studies