Abstract

This bibliometric analysis examines the research landscape of vitamin D in football players from 1975 to 2024, utilizing bibliometric techniques to assess publication types, research fields, citation counts, and international collaborations. Vitamin D’s crucial role in bone health, muscle development, and overall physiological function makes it particularly relevant for athletes. The study identifies that research articles are predominant (81.06%), with a significant focus on sports sciences (46.21%) and nutrition and dietetics (27.27%). The analysis highlights high-impact studies and prominent authors, such as Radziminski Lukasz and Close Graeme L., and underscores the strong international collaboration, notably among the USA, England, and Poland. Keyword density maps emphasize the central importance of “vitamin D” and its connection to “football” and “athletes”. The study concludes that while sports sciences and nutrition are well-researched, there are gaps in physiological and orthopedic studies, suggesting opportunities for further research. Future studies should consider regional differences and collaborative efforts to deepen the understanding of vitamin D’s effects on football players.

Keywords:Football; Vitamin D; Bibliometric analysis; Sports sciences