title: Muscular effects of vitamin D in young athletes and non-athletes and in the elderly.
abstract: Muscles are major targets of vitamin D. Exposure of skeletal muscles to vitamin D induces the expression of multiple myogenic transcription factors enhancing muscle cell proliferation and differentiation. At the same time vitamin D suppresses the expression of myostatin, a negative regulator of muscle mass. Moreover, vitamin D increases the number of type II or fast twitch muscle cells and in particular that of type IIA cells, while its deficiency causes type IIA cell atrophy. Furthermore, vitamin D supplementation in young males with low vitamin D levels increases the percentage of type IIA fibers in muscles, causing an increase in muscular high power output. Vitamin D levels are strongly associated with exercise performance in athletes and physically active individuals. In the elderly and in adults below the age of 65, several studies have established a close association between vitamin D levels and neuromuscular coordination. The aim of this review is to appraise our current understanding of the significance of vitamin D on muscular performance in both older and frail individuals as well as in younger adults, athletes or non-athletes with regard to both ordinary everyday musculoskeletal tasks and peak athletic performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Koundourakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Pavlina D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Avgoustinaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Malliaraki
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. margiori@uoc.gr.|School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. margiori@uoc.gr.
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Margioris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000097:blood*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D