Vitamin D: Recent Advances and Implications for Athletes

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sports medicine (Auckland) 2015-02, Vol.45 (2), p.213-229
Main Authors: Todd, Joshua J., Pourshahidi, L. Kirsty, McSorley, Emeir M., Madigan, Sharon M., Magee, Pamela J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptive Immunity
Age
Athletic Performance - physiology
Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena
Clinical trials
Dietary Supplements
Humans
Immunity, Innate
Lung - physiology
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Muscle, Skeletal - physiology
Musculoskeletal system
Older people
Physiology
Respiratory Tract Infections - prevention & control
Review Article
Sports Medicine
Studies
Sunscreen
Vitamin D
Vitamin D - administration & dosage
Vitamin D Deficiency - prevention & control
Vitamin deficiency
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0112-1642
1179-2035
DOI:10.1007/s40279-014-0266-7