Title |
Vitamin D: Recent Advances and Implications for Athletes
|
---|---|
Published in |
Sports Medicine, September 2014
|
DOI | 10.1007/s40279-014-0266-7 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Joshua J. Todd, L. Kirsty Pourshahidi, Emeir M. McSorley, Sharon M. Madigan, Pamela J. Magee |
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. |
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Other | 7 | 9% |
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Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 16 | 20% |
Scientists | 15 | 19% |
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Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
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Spain | 2 | 1% |
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Brazil | 1 | <1% |
Nigeria | 1 | <1% |
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Student > Master | 35 | 18% |
Researcher | 16 | 8% |
Other | 15 | 8% |
Student > Postgraduate | 15 | 8% |
Other | 45 | 23% |
Unknown | 36 | 18% |
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