A-044 Using ID-Vit Test Systems to Assess the Effect of Vitamin B Supplementation on Fatigue Symptoms in Professional Athletes
Authors: Erpenbach K , Erpenbach M C , Maier D , Seidl H , Aksan A , Mayer W , Mücke S 
Published: September 2023

Background

Training and competition stress may result in temporary decrements (muscle damage, impaired immune system) in physical performance and significant levels of fatigue in professional athletes. Evidence suggest a causal association between these prevalent fatigue symptoms, temporary decrements and low serum levels of B vitamins. Therefore, it is suggested that supplementing B vitamins has a positive effect on reducing fatigue symptoms. However existing studies failed to show the connection with the traditional methodology like HPLC or LC/MS where only one analyte is quantified. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of vitamin B complex supplementation on fatigue symptoms, in professional athletes by measuring bioavailable vitamins with ID-vit test systems, that quantifies the bioavailable B vitamins.

Methods

The serum samples of 57 professional athletes (12 female, 23.6 ± 6.9years) before and after 3 months of daily vitamin B complex supplementation (20 mg thiamine, 15 mg riboflavin, 30 mg niacin, 10 mg pantothenic acid, 15 mg pyridoxal-5-phosphate, 400 µg 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, 1000 µg methylcobalamine, 1000 µg biotin) were compared. CBC was determined by standard tests. Bioavailable vitamins B2, B6, folic acid, B12 in serum and B1 in whole blood were measured by the ID-Vit® test kits from Immundiagnostik AG. The test system is based on a microbiological method. The microorganisms used in this test system can metabolize various vitamers that are equally available in vivo. Thus, a functional system is simulated that quantifies the bioavailable B vitamins in comparison to other methods as e.g., HPLC or LC/MS, where only one analyte is quantified. The results of the methodology correlate very well with the observed symptoms and are therefore a promising tool for therapy monitoring. Using 5-point Likert scales, fatigue, sleep quality, muscle damage and impairment of immune system were assessed at the baseline and after 3 months intervention.

Results

Ultimately 29 professional athletes (10 female, 22.6 ± 7.9years) were completed the study. The bioavailable vitamin B levels were significantly higher after the 3 months supplementation period. (for vitamin B1 35.6 ± 9.4 µg/L and 48.1 ± 18.3 µg/L, for vitamin B2 99.9 ± 63.3 µg/L and 125.0 ± 66.4 µg/L, for vitamin B6 10.2 ± 13.8 µg/L and 30.7 ± 29.2 µg/L, for vitamin folic acid 9.3 ± 7.4 µg/L and 12.7 ± 9.1 µg/L, for vitamin B12 362.9 ± 335.2 µg/L and 445.2 ± 367.5 µg/L respectively). The level of feeling tired significantly lowered (6.0 ± 2.9 vs 1.9 ± 1.8, P &lt; 0.001) after 3 months in parallel to higher serum bioavailable vitamin B levels. The professional athletes significantly less troubles with their sleep quality (34.5% vs 6.9%; P &lt; 0.001), muscle damage (58.6% vs 6.9%; P = 0.033), and infection rate (44.8% vs 0.0%; P &lt; 0.001). Performance fatigue was reported in 75.9% and mental fatigue was reported in 79.3% of the athletes before vitamin B complex supplementation and significantly decreased to 0.0% and 13.8% after 3 months of supplementation period (P &lt; 0.001).

Conclusion

Low serum bioavailable vitamin B values found to be related to fatigue, sleep quality, muscle damage and impairment of immune system. The supplementation of B complex vitamins was effective on reducing fatigue symptoms, infection frequency, muscle damage and helped increasing sleep quality. The ID-vit tests system is an effective and easy to apply tool to quantify the bioavailable B vitamins in clinical settings to assess undersupply.