title: Vitamin D: recent advances and implications for athletes.
abstract: Athletes may be predisposed to low vitamin D concentrations, with studies reporting a high prevalence of athletes with a vitamin D concentration below 50 nmol/L across a range of sports and geographical locations, particularly over the winter months. It is well documented that vitamin D is important for osseous health by enhancing calcium absorption at the small intestine; however, emerging research suggests that vitamin D may also benefit a plethora of extra-skeletal target tissues and systems. There is strong evidence that vitamin D is capable of regulating both innate and adaptive immune processes via binding of active vitamin D to its complementary receptor. Supplementation with vitamin D may also enhance skeletal muscle function through morphological adaptations and enhanced calcium availability during cross-bridge cycling; however, an exact mechanism of action is yet to be elucidated. Such findings have prompted research into the importance of maintaining vitamin D concentrations over wintertime and the possible physiological and immunological benefits of vitamin D supplementation in athletes. The following review critically evaluates existing literature and presents novel perspectives on how vitamin D may enhance athletic performance.
authors.affiliation: Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: Joshua J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: L Kirsty
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Pourshahidi
authors.forename: Emeir M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: McSorley
authors.forename: Sharon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Madigan
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Magee
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D