Low Vitamin D 2X more likely in power-sport athletes – June 2022

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Vitamin D deficiency in athletes: Laboratory, clinical and field integration

Tina Shuk-Tin Ip a , Sai-Chuen Fu b, Michael Tim-Yun Ong b, Patrick Shu-Hang Yung b
Asia-Pacific Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy,Rehabilitation and Technology
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asmart.2022.06.001

PDF Table of Contents

Possible reasons for low D in athletes

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in athletes. Increased utilisation and storage depletion may be key contributing factor. We found a higher prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy (deficiency/ insufficiency) in power than endurance sport athletes, which may be related to vitamin D utilisation and reserve in skeletal muscles.

Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in athletes. Increased utilisation and storage depletion may be an important contributing factor for the high prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy in power sport (65.4%) compared to endurance sport (32.9%) athletes. Clinical feature of athletes at risk of vitamin D deficiency include:

• (1) female athletes with amenorrhea,
• (2) jumping sport athletes with a history of previous stress fracture,
• (3) indoor sport athletes who require weight-maintenance, and
• (4) collegiate athletes with busy schedules.

Ideally, serum 25(OH)D level should be assessed at least twice yearly in any athletes screened ‘at-risk’ — once in the early spring for the nadir and once in the late summer for a peak level. Supplemental oral vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) may be tailored according to athlete’s serum 25(OH)D basal levels and predicted seasonal variation throughout a competitive sporting season. Prescription at doses higher than the official recommendations are acceptable from a safety perspective.
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VitaminDWiki - Overview Sports and vitamin D contains

Athletes are helped by vitamin D by:

1. Faster reaction time
2. Far fewer colds/flus during the winter
3. Less sore/tired after a workout
4. Fewer micro-cracks and broken bones
5. Bones which do break heal much more quickly
6. Increased VO2 and exercise endurance Feb 2011
7. Indoor athletes especially need vitamin D
8. Professional indoor athletes are starting to take vitamin D and/or use UV beds
9. Olympic athletes have used UV/vitamin D since the 1930's
10. The biggest gain from the use of vitamin D is by those who exercise less than 2 hours per day.
11. Reduced muscle fatigue with 10,000 IU vitamin D daily
12. Muscle strength improved when vitamin D added: 3 Meta-analysis
13. Reduced Concussions
    See also: Sports and Vitamin D category 283 items

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VitaminDWiki - Sports category contains

283 items in Sports category

Sports benefits from up to 50 ng (click on chart for details)

see also:
Overview Sports and vitamin D     Concussions
Military    Muscle    Overview Fractures and vitamin D
Vitamin D supplementation increases strength of lower muscles – Meta-analysis April 2019
Athletes helped by weekly 50,000 IU Vitamin D – RCT Aug 2019
College swimmers helped by daily 5,000 IU of Vitamin D in the fall – RCT Feb 2020
Shin splints decrease with vitamin D
Less muscle inflammation after exercise if high level of Vitamin D (50 ng) -July 2021 50 ng
Only 1 NCAA basketball player getting 10,000 IU vitamin D daily achieved 50 ng goal – Jan 2020 50 ng
NCAA trainers are getting on board the Vitamin D train (40-50 ng)– Nov 2019 50 ng
Is 50 ng of vitamin D too high, just right, or not enough 50 ng
The only independent predictor of aerobic power: Vitamin D - 2021
Olympic Committee consensus on Vitamin D, Omega-3, Zinc, etc– May 2018 not consdered "doping"
Some Foot and ankle problems are treated by Vitamin D – many studies
Typical stress fracture during US Navy training cost 14,953 dollars, most had less than 40 ng Vitamin D - June 2022
Vitamin D trials by military – all 4 found benefit – review Sept 2019
Vitamin D supplementation increases strength of lower muscles – Meta-analysis April 2019
Omega-3 helps muscles - many studies