EFFECTS OF VITAMIN D IN ATHLETES
Canan Gönen AYDIN
Baltalimanı Kemik Hastalıkları Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Spor Hekimliği Kliniği, İstanbul
Keywords: Vitamin D, sun exposure, athlete’s performance, chronic diseases
Abstract
Major causes of vitamin D deficiency are inadequate intake, limited exposure to sunlight and inadequate synthesis in skin and kidney. Vitamin D is a lipid soluble secosteroid prohormone, which is produced in the skin tissue by sunlight exposure. After a variety of processes, it is converted to calcitriol hormone, which plays an important role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Understanding the extraosseous effects of vitamin D on immune system, cell proliferation, differentiation and hormone regulation made it popular again. Its efficacy on different systems is being unveiled day by day. These effects and regulatory relationships suggest a potential impact of vitamin D on physical and athletic performance. The present review aims to call the awareness of sports physicians on the issues in question, through discussing current literature on the subject.
