{
  "abstract": "Background/Objectives: Low vitamin D status is frequently reported among athletes, but whether vitamin D supplementation improves physical performance in football players remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration, jump performance, sprint performance, aerobic capacity, and muscular performance in association football and futsal players. Methods: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from database inception to 31 May 2026. Controlled intervention studies comparing vitamin D supplementation with control conditions were eligible. Standardized mean differences were calculated as Hedges’ g and pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias using RoB 2 or ROBINS-I. The certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. The protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261430873). Results: Eleven reports representing nine independent studies and 312 players were included. In RCT-only primary analyses, vitamin D supplementation was associated with higher circulating 25(OH)D concentrations (g = 1.41, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.92; I² = 58.0%). Pooled effects were not statistically significant for jump performance (g = 0.21, 95% CI −0.10 to 0.53), sprint performance (g = −0.03, 95% CI −0.40 to 0.34), aerobic capacity (g = 0.00, 95% CI −0.45 to 0.45), or muscular performance (g = 0.19, 95% CI −0.14 to 0.51). The certainty of evidence was low for circulating 25(OH)D, jump performance, and muscular performance, and very low for sprint performance and aerobic capacity. Conclusions: Vitamin D supplementation was associated with increased circulating 25(OH)D concentrations, whereas current evidence is insufficient to support a consistent improvement in physical performance. Given the low to very low certainty of evidence, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Larger, well-designed randomized controlled trials using standardized, football-relevant performance tests are warranted.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Qilu Medical University, Zibo, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jinfa Gu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yu Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Luhua Xiao"
    }
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  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0ve5abvn3pxng.bib",
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  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0362552",
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  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
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  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
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  "native_subjects": [
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      "2712|Vitamin D Research Studies"
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    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Biological locomotion/Running"
    ],
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      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Chemical compounds/Organic compounds/Vitamins/Vitamin D"
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      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Organic chemistry/Organic compounds/Vitamins"
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      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Organic chemistry/Organic compounds/Vitamins/Vitamin D"
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  "openalex": "W7225420414",
  "pdf_url": null,
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  "published": "2026-11-06",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0ve5abvn3pxng.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-07T12:20:24Z",
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      "subfield": "organic"
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  "title": "Effects of vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status and physical performance in football players: A systematic review and meta-analysis",
  "title_text": "Effects of vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status and physical performance in football players: A systematic review and meta-analysis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-08T12:20:48Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0ve5abvn3pxng",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}