Surprisingly, a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency has recently been reported worldwide. There has been recent evidence that this occurs even where sunlight is abundant. There have been theories that this is due to the changing atmosphere but no conlcusive evidence exists yet.
Very little is known about vitamin D status among athletes but a few studies suggest that poor vitamin D status exists among them. It is well recognized that vitamin D is necessary for optimal bone health, but many people don’t know that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of autoimmune diseases and other chronic diseases and can also have a profound effect on human immunity, inflammation, and muscle function. It is likely that insufficient vitamin D levels can affect an athlete’s overall health and ability to train (i.e., by affecting bone health, immunity, and exercise-related pain and inflammation).
Although further research in this area is needed, it is important that athletes have their vitamin DÂ status evaluated. I like to see 25-hydroxy vitamin D between 50 and 100 ng/ml but there is some evidence that it should be in the higher end of this range. I also recommend dietary supplementation with 2,000-4,000 IU vitamin D3 per day. Although this is significantly higher than what is currently considered the adequate intake, recent research demonstrates these levels to be safe and possibly necessary to maintain adequate 25 hydroxy vitamin D concentrations.
If you are interested in having your vitamin D checked, email info@OptFunction.com, The cost of the test is $50 plus an initial and follow-up visit. For the rest of 2009, I am running a special on vitamin D evaluation; $150 includes the initial visit, blood test and follow-up visit. For more information on my other chiropractic, nutrition, hypnotherapy and functional medicine programs, click on the following link; Optimum Function: Portland, Oregon chiropractic, nutrition, hypnotherapy and functional medicine
Yours in Health, Tim Irving DC, MS, LMT, CKTP, Nutritionist, Hypnotherapist Optimum Function: Portland, Oregon, 97214 Optimum Function = Optimum HealthReference:
Willis KS, Peterson NJ, Larson-Meyer DE. “Should we be concerned about the vitamin D status of athletes?” Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2008 Apr;18(2):204-24.
Yours in Health,Tim Irving DC, MS, LMT, CKTP, GSTM cert, Nutritionist, HypnotherapistOptimum Function: 819 SE Morrison St. ste. 215, Portland, OR, 97215Optimum Function = Optimum Health
Tags: athletes, chiropractor portland oregon, nutrition portland oregon, Vitamin D
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[...] A new review of the body of research on athletic performance and vitamin D suggests that adequate vitamin D levels in athletes could dramatically improve their performance. Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that is activated in the kidneys; when activated, it regulates more than 1,000 genetic functions. This number seems to grow, touting the importance of vitamin D with every study published. If you have been reading my blog entries, you know that I have posted many blogs about vitamin D. Researchers involved in this study reviewed the world’s literature for evidence that vitamin D affects physical and athletic performance. Numerous studies, particularly in the German literature in the 1950s, show vitamin D-producing UV light improves athletic performance. There is also a lot of research indicating physical and athletic performance varies in relation to vitamin D levels; it peaks when vitamin D levels peak, declines as levels decline. What I found incredibly interesting is that Vitamin D also increases the size and number of fast twitch muscle fibers which could make an athlete more pwerful. It is apparent from this study and others that vitamin D levels are directly associated with musculoskeletal and therefore athletic performance. The levels needed for these affects seem to be above 50ng/dl. As I wrote about in a previous blog levels may also protect the athlete from several acute and chronic medical conditions. Here’s a link to hat entry (Athletes Like The Rest of Us, Need More Vitamin D). [...]