title: Female Distance Runners Training In Southeastern United States Have Adequate Vitamin D Status.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High rates of vitamin D deficiency have been reported in athletes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between vitamin D with bone health and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations in female runners who trained at 30.4° degrees north.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D), PTH, body composition, and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured in 59 female runners, aged 18-40 years. Stress fracture history, training duration and frequency were evaluated by questionnaire. As per National Endocrine Society cut-offs, serum vitamin D ranges were: 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L for deficient; 50-75 nmol/L for insufficient; and ≥ 75 nmol/L for sufficient status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations were 122.6 ± 63.9 nmol/L, with 18.6% of subjects in the deficient (5.1%) or insufficient (13.5%) range. No significant differences were observed between sufficient and deficient/insufficient subjects for BMD, PTH, history of stress fractures, or demographic data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of distance runners maintained sufficient vitamin D status, suggesting that training outdoors in latitude where vitamin D synthesis occurs year-round reduces the risk for vitamin D deficiency. Data do not support the indiscriminate supplementation of outdoor athletes in southern latitudes without prior screening.
authors.forename: Laurel M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wentz
authors.forename: Pei-Yang
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jasminka Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Ilich
authors.forename: Emily M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Haymes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running; D015144:Southeastern United States; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: 25-hydroxyvitamin D; athlete; bone mineral density; nutrition