Plausible ergogenic effects of vitamin D on athletic performance and recovery.
The purpose of this review is to examine vitamin D in the context of sport nutrition and its potential role in optimizing athletic performance. Vitamin D receptors (VDR) and vitamin D response elements (VDREs) are located in almost every tissue within the human body including skeletal muscle. The hormonally-active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, has been shown to play critical roles in the human body and regulates over 900 gene variants. Based on the literature presented, it is plausible that vitamin D levels above the normal reference range (up to 100 nmol/L) might increase skeletal muscle function, decrease recovery time from training, increase both force and power production, and increase testosterone production, each of which could potentiate athletic performance. Therefore, maintaining higher levels of vitamin D could prove beneficial for athletic performance. Despite this situation, large portions of athletic populations are vitamin D deficient. Currently, the research is inconclusive with regards to the optimal intake of vitamin D, the specific forms of vitamin D one should ingest, and the distinct nutrient-nutrient interactions of vitamin D with vitamin K that affect arterial calcification and hypervitaminosis. Furthermore, it is possible that dosages exceeding the recommendations for vitamin D (i.e. dosages up to 4000-5000 IU/day), in combination with 50 to 1000 mcg/day of vitamin K1 and K2 could aid athletic performance. This review will investigate these topics, and specifically their relevance to athletic performance.
UBC Environmental Physiology Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada.
Dylan T
DT
Dahlquist
Providence Medical Research Center, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital, Research Discovery Lab, Spokane, WA 99204 USA.
Brad P
BP
Dieter
Simon Fraser University, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK), 8888 University Drive - Burnaby, Vancouver, BC V5A 1S6 Canada.
Michael S
MS
Koehle
D054874:Athletic Performance; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects; D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064133:Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000494:pharmacology
D058573:Performance-Enhancing Substances; D014812:Vitamin K; D014807:Vitamin D
Athlete; Dosage; Hormones; Performance; Recovery; Skeletal muscle; Testosterone; Vitamin D; Vitamin K