Physical exercise practice influences serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and PTH in spinal cord injured men.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of physical exercise practice on serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and PTH in spinal cord injured adult men (19–56 y, n = 25). Hours of training per week were estimated by using a self‐reported questionnaire. Serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and intact PTH were assessed by a chemiluminescent enzyme‐labeled immunometric assay. Serum 25(OH)D varied in a range between 27.5–107.5 nmol/L, being 15 subjects below 75 nmol/L and 3 subjects below 50 nmol/L. Serum iPTH was on average 44.9 ± 15.0 pg/mL and correlated negatively with 25(OH)D (r= −0.45, P<0.05). Hours of physical exercise practice was on average 9 ± 11 h/week. After controlling for age and time after injury, hours of training per week was positively correlated with serum 25(OH)D (r= 0.54, P<0.05) and negatively correlated with serum iPTH (r= −0.54, P<0.05). Our results indicate that most of the spinal cord injured men studied had serum 25(OH)D concentrations below the proposed cutoff (≤ 75nmol/L) to define insufficiency. Moreover, these results suggest that physical exercise practice may contribute for improving vitamin D status in adult spinal cord injured men. Financial support: FAPERJ (Brazil).