Volume 29, Issue 162, August 2025

The Role of Vitamin D3 in Musculoskeletal Recovery: Implications for Bone, Muscle, and Tendon Healing Across Athletic Disciplines

Tomasz Kucharski^1♦, Agata Brzyska², Oliwia Kowalczyk³, Sandra Prolejko⁴, Błażej Gajęcki⁵, Greta Steć⁶, Justyna Kopala⁷, Magdalena Pawlak⁸, Mikołaj Wiśniewski⁹, Maciejowski Michał¹⁰

¹Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
²Central Clinical Hospital of Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska 251, 92- 213 Lodz, Poland
³Medical University of Lodz, Kościuszki 4, 90-419, Poland
⁴Medical University of Lodz, Kościuszki 4, 90-419 Lodz, Poland
⁵Central Clinical Hospital of Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska 251, 92- 213 Lodz, Poland
⁶Central Clinical Hospital of Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska 251, 92- 213 Lodz, Poland
⁷University Clinical Hospital No.2 of the Medical University of Lodz, Żeromskiego 113, 90-549 Łódź, Poland
⁸Central Clinical Hospital of Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska 251, 92- 213 Lodz, Poland
⁹Pope John Paul II Independent Public Hospital in Zamość Poland
¹⁰University Clinical Hospital No.2 of the Medical University of Lodz, Żeromskiego 113, 90-549 Łódź, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Tomasz Kucharski, Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland

ABSTRACT

Background: Tissue repair, immunological control, skeletal muscle function, and calcium-phosphorus metabolism depend on vitamin D3. Its deficiency is widespread among athletes and may impede musculoskeletal recovery. Aim: This review attempts to consolidate and critically analyze the most recent research on the role of vitamin D3 in bone, muscle, and tendon healing in athletes. Material and Methods: Based on a thorough search of the PubMed/MEDLINE database for peerreviewed publications released between 2010 and 2024, the authors conducted a narrative review. Twenty-three research were chosen based on their significance for sports medicine, methodological quality, and relevance. The review included original research, meta-analyses, and reviews on vitamin D3 and its impact on athletes' musculoskeletal recovery. Results: Sufficient vitamin D3 level correlates with improved muscle recovery and increased bone density. It is also beneficial for bone regeneration. Most of the findings originate from preclinical studies or animal models. Nevertheless, there are not many studies that evaluate vitamin D3's direct impact on athletes' tendon healing. Furthermore, there is considerable variation in study designs, dosage schedules, and evaluation techniques. Conclusions: Particularly for athletes with a known deficiency, customized vitamin D3 supplements may aid in their recovery from injuries. To create evidence-based clinical protocols for vitamin D3 used in sports injury recovery, however, strong randomized controlled trials are needed. Although incorporating vitamin D3 testing and supplementation into multimodal rehabilitation plans may improve recovery, more study is required to determine the subgroups that stand to gain the most and optimize dosage.

Keywords: Vitamin D3, musculoskeletal regeneration, rehabilitation, sports medicine

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e134ms3622

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v29i162.e134ms3622

Published: 18 August 2025