According to Gram Research analysis of a 2026 meta-analysis of nine studies with 312 football and futsal players, vitamin D supplements clearly raised blood vitamin D levels but did not reliably improve jumping, sprinting, endurance, or muscle performance. The evidence for athletic benefits is low to very low in certainty, so supplements should not be expected to boost sports performance.
According to research reviewed by Gram, vitamin D supplements raised vitamin D levels in the blood of football and futsal players, but they did not clearly improve how well those players jumped, sprinted, ran long distances, or used their muscles. Researchers combined nine separate studies involving 312 players and found that the blood level increase was large and consistent. The performance results, however, were too inconsistent to support a benefit. Many athletes have low vitamin D, so checking levels may still be useful. Still, the evidence for better athletic results is weak, and the researchers say larger, well-designed trials are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Key Statistics
A 2026 meta-analysis of nine studies involving 312 football and futsal players found that vitamin D supplementation substantially raised blood vitamin D levels in randomized trials.
A 2026 meta-analysis of 312 football and futsal players found that vitamin D supplements did not produce a statistically significant improvement in sprint performance (effect size of -0.03) or aerobic capacity (effect size of 0.00).
According to a 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis, the certainty of evidence was rated low for jump performance and muscle performance in football and futsal players taking vitamin D.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Does taking vitamin D supplements raise vitamin D levels in football and futsal players, and does it make them perform better in jumping, sprinting, endurance, and muscle strength?
- Who participated: The review included 11 reports covering nine independent studies with a total of 312 adult football (soccer) and futsal (indoor soccer) players. Most results came from randomized trials, where players were assigned by chance to take vitamin D or a control treatment.
- Key finding: Vitamin D supplements raised blood vitamin D levels by a large amount in the randomized trials. Their effects on jumping, sprinting, endurance, and muscle performance were small and not statistically reliable, meaning the results could easily have happened by chance.
- What it means for you: If you play football or futsal, vitamin D supplements will likely raise your blood levels, which may matter if you are deficient. However, there is not enough evidence that they will make you jump higher, run faster, or perform better. Talk with a doctor or sports dietitian before starting any supplement, especially at high doses.
The Research Details
This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis. In a systematic review, researchers search many scientific databases for every study that fits a set of rules, then read and judge each one. In this case, five large databases were searched from their start dates through May 2026. Only controlled studies that compared vitamin D with a control condition were included.
A meta-analysis is a statistical method that combines the results of several studies into one overall estimate. This makes it possible to see patterns that a single small study might miss. The researchers used a random-effects model, which assumes that the studies differ somewhat from one another in their designs, players, and doses. Each outcome was reported as a standardized effect size called Hedges’ g, which allows results from tests that measure different things to be compared on one scale.
Two reviewers worked separately to pull out the data and to rate each study’s risk of bias, meaning how likely its design was to produce skewed results. The team also rated how confident they could be in the evidence using a standard system called GRADE. The review plan was registered in advance in a public database called PROSPERO, which helps prevent researchers from changing their methods after seeing the results.
Combining studies helps overcome the problem that individual sports trials are often small and use different tests. Because the review focused mainly on randomized trials, the strongest type of comparison, the results are more trustworthy than they would be from observational studies alone. Pre-registering the plan and having two reviewers check the data also reduce the chance that the authors shaped the findings to fit a particular story.
The review followed recognized international standards and used a pre-registered plan, both signs of careful work. Its main analyses relied on randomized trials, which is a strength. However, the included studies were few and small, the players differed in age, sport, and starting vitamin D levels, and the tests used to measure performance were not standardized. The researchers rated the certainty of evidence as low for blood vitamin D levels, jump performance, and muscle performance, and very low for sprint and aerobic performance. This means future research could change these conclusions.
What the Results Show
The clearest finding was that vitamin D supplements raised circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the standard blood marker of vitamin D status. In the randomized trials, the increase was large (Hedges’ g of 1.41), meaning supplemented players had markedly higher blood levels than those in control groups. The estimate varied somewhat between studies, which the researchers noted as moderate variation in results.
For performance, the picture was very different. Jump performance showed a small positive trend (g of 0.21), and muscle performance showed a similar small trend (g of 0.19). However, the uncertainty around both estimates was wide and crossed zero, so neither result can be considered a reliable improvement. Sprint performance showed no meaningful change (g of -0.03), and aerobic capacity showed no average difference at all (g of 0.00).
In plain terms, vitamin D reliably changed the blood test, but it did not reliably change how players performed on the field or in the lab. The small positive trends for jumping and muscle performance are worth watching in future research, but they are not strong enough to recommend supplements for performance.
The review also looked at whether the results changed when non-randomized studies were included. These studies generally had weaker designs and higher risk of bias, so the researchers focused their main conclusions on the randomized trials. The broader results did not change the overall picture, which supports the conclusion that performance benefits remain unproven.
The review also confirmed that vitamin D status in athletes is a real concern in many settings. Because the blood level effect was so consistent, supplementation may be a sensible way to correct a deficiency, even though it does not appear to improve athletic output on its own.
This review fits with broader research suggesting that vitamin D supplements help people who are deficient but do little for people who already have adequate levels. Earlier studies in athletes and the general public have often shown mixed results for strength, power, and endurance. This review adds a structured, pre-registered summary specific to football and futsal, a group that had not been systematically reviewed in this way before.
The biggest limitation is the small number of studies and players. Nine studies and 312 players is not a large base for drawing firm conclusions about several different performance measures. Many outcomes were based on only a handful of trials, which makes results sensitive to a single study.
The studies also differed in dose, duration, timing, and starting vitamin D levels. Players also varied in age, level of play, and training load, which can influence both vitamin D status and performance. The performance tests were not standardized, so a jump test in one study may not measure the same thing as a jump test in another.
Finally, the certainty of evidence was rated low to very low for most outcomes. This means the true effects could be quite different from the estimates, and the review cannot rule out either a small benefit or no benefit at all.
The Bottom Line
Research shows that vitamin D supplements raise blood vitamin D levels in football and futsal players, so checking levels and correcting a deficiency is a reasonable step (high confidence in the blood effect). Current evidence does not support taking vitamin D specifically to improve jumping, sprinting, endurance, or muscle performance (low to very low confidence, since the evidence is limited). Athletes should not expect supplements to replace training, sleep, nutrition, or recovery.
Football and futsal players who have been found to have low vitamin D levels, and coaches or team staff who manage athlete health, should pay attention to these findings. Athletes who train indoors, live far north, have darker skin, or have limited sun exposure may be at higher risk of low levels. People who are not athletes can also learn that vitamin D supplements mainly help correct deficiency rather than boost fitness. Anyone with a medical condition, who takes other medicines, or who is pregnant should consult a doctor before supplementing. Athletes whose levels are already normal are unlikely to gain performance benefits.
Blood vitamin D levels can change within several weeks of starting a supplement, though the exact timing depends on the dose and the starting level. Any performance benefit, if it exists, would need to be measured over a training season or longer, and the current research does not clearly show that such a benefit occurs. A realistic expectation is to see a blood level change within one to three months and to judge any performance effect with a proper, repeated assessment rather than a single test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does vitamin D help football players perform better?
Current research does not show a reliable performance benefit. A 2026 meta-analysis of nine studies with 312 players found no statistically significant improvement in jumping, sprinting, endurance, or muscle performance, though vitamin D clearly raised blood levels.
Should soccer players take vitamin D supplements?
Players with low vitamin D levels may benefit from correcting their deficiency, since supplements reliably raised blood levels in a 2026 meta-analysis. Players with normal levels are unlikely to gain athletic benefits, so a doctor should guide any decision.
How much does vitamin D raise blood levels in athletes?
In randomized trials reviewed in a 2026 meta-analysis, vitamin D supplementation produced a large increase in blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, with an effect size of 1.41. This indicates a strong and consistent rise in circulating vitamin D among supplemented football and futsal players.
Can vitamin D improve jump height or sprint speed?
Research has not shown a consistent improvement. A 2026 meta-analysis found small, non-significant trends for jump performance and no meaningful change in sprint performance. The evidence is rated low or very low in certainty, so larger, well-designed trials are still needed.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Log your daily vitamin D dose in milligrams or international units, and record the date of any blood test that shows your 25-hydroxyvitamin D level. Also track jump height or sprint times on a standard test, such as a 30-meter sprint or a vertical jump, once every two to four weeks.
- Set a daily reminder to take your prescribed or doctor-approved vitamin D dose with a meal that contains some fat, since this may help absorption. Pair the reminder with a short weekly check-in that notes sun exposure, training load, and sleep quality so you can see what else may be affecting your results.
- Plan a blood test for vitamin D at the start of the season and again after three to six months to confirm that your levels are in a healthy range. Keep performance records across the full season so you can see real trends rather than reacting to a single good or bad day. If your levels are normal and your performance is not changing, the app can help you conclude that supplements are not the right tool for you, and to focus instead on training, recovery, and nutrition.
This article summarizes a systematic review and meta-analysis for general education and is not medical or nutritional advice. The studies included were few and small, and the certainty of evidence was rated low to very low for most outcomes. Vitamin D needs vary by person, and high doses can be harmful. Consult a physician or registered dietitian before starting, changing, or stopping any supplement, especially if you are an athlete, pregnant, or taking other medications.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.