title: Vitamin D in exercise: physiologic and analytical concerns.
abstract: Despite a wide number of studies performed on the general population, little is known about the Vitamin D status of athletes. A particular influence of many factors, including skin pigmentation, early- or late-day training, indoor training, geographic location and extensive sunscreen use, has been observed in this specific population. The need of supplementation with Vitamin D in athletes is not defined or, when supplementation is needed, even the optimal amount of Vitamin D to be used is not specified. The periodic measurement of Vitamin D is the only procedure capable to define athletes' status. Although various methods for the measurement of Vitamin D are routinely used, they often give discordant and poorly reproducible results; thus, it is necessary to standardize the various methods, in order to have comparable results. In conclusion, current available data indicate both that little is known about the Vitamin D status of athletes and that is still unclear if supplementation could be desirable. Finally, it must be pointed out that all the papers about Vitamin D status should indicate in detail the method used for really allowing a correct interpretation of data.
authors.affiliation: I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano, Italy. patrizia.lanteri@grupposandonato.it
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lanteri
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colombini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Banfi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D014807:Vitamin D