It’s Safe to Get Kicks From Soccer

Soccer season is in full swing in Southern California, with more than 200,000 youths, ages 5 to 18, on the field.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines are nail-biting parents who worry about injuries during the fast-moving game.

But mothers and fathers can take solace: According to a new study, soccer is relatively safe.

Danish researchers registered injuries among nearly 500 boys during a year of play for three soccer clubs. Among the findings, published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine:

* Injuries occurred at the rate of 3.7 per 1,000 hours of soccer per player. In all, there were 312 injuries. That qualifies soccer as a relatively low-risk sport, the authors say.

* Knee and ankle injuries were most common. Back pain occurred much less frequently than lower-limb problems. Fractures accounted for 15 injuries. Surprisingly, upper-extremity fractures were more common than lower-extremity breaks.

* Injury frequency increases with age.

The findings of the Danish study reflect the experiences of U.S. players, say organizers of local soccer leagues.

“As the child grows older and speeds and (body) weight increase, there is more chance of serious injuries,” says Lolly Keys, spokeswoman for the American Youth Soccer Organization, who notes that in an elementary school-level game, a midfielder will put in 2 or 3 miles; a teen-age midfielder will log about 5 miles.

Still, Keys agrees the sport is relatively low-risk. And, to make it even safer, there are a number of precautions suggested or sometimes mandated by youth league organizers.

TWO VIEWS DOES VITAMIN C LOWER CHOLESTEROL?

Possibly, but Why Not Look at Your Diet, Too?

To lower blood cholesterol and minimize risk of heart disease, researchers have suggested a variety of measures. Eat oat bran. Exercise. If those fail, try medication. Now, some experts have found that taking Vitamin C may be yet another way.

In a U.S. Department of Agriculture study of 456 men and women, those with higher blood levels of Vitamin C had lower levels of so-called bad cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins, or LDLs) and higher levels of good cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins or HDLs).

How does it work? Some researchers speculate that LDLs become artery cloggers once they are oxidized by substances called free radicals. Vitamin C, an antioxidant, may weaken the oxidized LDLs enough to improve the overall cholesterol profile.

Based on these new studies, is it wise to increase your Vitamin C intake? (The recommended dietary allowance for adults is 60 milligrams, about the amount found in an orange.) Here are two views.

Judith Hallfrisch, research leader, Carbohydrate Nutrition Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture

“The 60 milligrams a day may be adequate to prevent clinical signs of deficiency, but a higher level might be even more beneficial. I would recommend 150 to 250 milligrams of Vitamin C a day total from foods and supplements. That may improve your cholesterol levels.”

Dr. Dean Ornish, director, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, UC San Francisco School of Medicine

“The better question is, why does the LDL get oxidized in the first place? We know a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet are major reasons. . . . People should deal with the fundamental causes of the problem. If they are not willing to change their diet, taking Vitamin C may be helpful, but it’s not nearly as helpful as dealing with your overall diet to determine why the LDL is elevated in the first place.”