Abstract
The active form of vitamin D (calcitriol) exerts its biological effects by binding to nuclear vitamin D receptors (VDRs), which are found in most human extraskeletal cells, including skeletal muscles. Vitamin D deficiency may cause deficits in strength, and lead to fatty degeneration of type II muscle fibers, which has been found to negatively correlate with physical performance. Vitamin D supplementation has been shown to improve vitamin D status and can positively affect skeletal muscles. The purpose of this study is to summarize the current evidence of the relationship between vitamin D, skeletal muscle function and physical performance in athletes. Additionally, we will discuss the effect of vitamin D supplementation on athletic performance in players. Further studies are necessary to fully characterize the underlying mechanisms of calcitriol action in the human skeletal muscle tissue, and to understand how these actions impact the athletic performance in athletes.
Highlights
Recent years have seen an increased interest in the research studies investigating vitamin D status in athletes
The aim of this paper is to present the latest evidence on the relationship between vitamin D levels, skeletal muscle function and athletic performance in athletes
This is in contrast to a study conducted by another team, where a statistically significant positive correlation was documented between calcidiol levels and hand grip strength in professional judo athletes
Summary
Recent years have seen an increased interest in the research studies investigating vitamin D status in athletes. Calcitriol activates many metabolic processes in the muscular tissue, exerting its actions via two types of receptors This results in the stimulation of protein synthesis and an increased number of type II muscle cells, both of which lead to the increased muscle contraction velocity and strength. Calcitriol plays an additional role in the proliferation and differentiation of muscle cells, and in the inhibition of their apoptosis [2,4,8] This may be associated, in a multidirectional and multifactorial manner, with physical performance of athletes. The available literature includes a large number of reports on the assessment of vitamin D status in athletes Many studies, those conducted during the winter season, showed serum 25(OH)D levels that were below the recommended range [11]. We provide evidence on the effect of vitamin D supplementation on physical performance in players
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