title: Vitamin D and the athlete: risks, recommendations, and benefits.
abstract: Vitamin D is well known for its role in calcium regulation and bone health, but emerging literature tells of vitamin D's central role in other vital body processes, such as: signaling gene response, protein synthesis, hormone synthesis, immune response, plus, cell turnover and regeneration. The discovery of the vitamin D receptor within the muscle suggested a significant role for vitamin D in muscle tissue function. This discovery led researchers to question the impact that vitamin D deficiency could have on athletic performance and injury. With over 77% of the general population considered vitamin D insufficient, it's likely that many athletes fall into the same category. Research has suggested vitamin D to have a significant effect on muscle weakness, pain, balance, and fractures in the aging population; still, the athletic population is yet to be fully examined. There are few studies to date that have examined the relationship between vitamin D status and performance, therefore, this review will focus on the bodily roles of vitamin D, recommended 25(OH)D levels, vitamin D intake guidelines and risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency in athletes. In addition, the preliminary findings regarding vitamin D's impact on athletic performance will be examined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Health Science, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA 98926, USA. danastorlie@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ogan
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pritchett
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015995:Prevalence; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D