Int J Sports Med 2013; 34(03): 248-252
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1321894
Nutrition
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Training Environment and Vitamin D Status in Athletes

P. Peeling
1   School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
2   Physiology, Western Australian Institute of Sport, Mt Claremont, Australia
,
S. K. Fulton
2   Physiology, Western Australian Institute of Sport, Mt Claremont, Australia
,
M. Binnie
1   School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
2   Physiology, Western Australian Institute of Sport, Mt Claremont, Australia
,
C. Goodman
3   Sports Medicine, Western Australian Institute of Sport, Mt Claremont, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 22 June 2012

Publication Date:
12 September 2012 (online)

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Abstract

This study assessed the associations between gender, anthropometry, predominant training environment and Vitamin D status in 72 elite athletes. Additionally, any links between Vitamin D status and recent injury/health status, or sun protection practices were investigated. Athletes underwent an anthropometric assessment and provided venous blood samples for the determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the accepted biological marker of Vitamin D status. Finally, athletes completed a questionnaire relating to their recent training and injury history, and their sun protection practices. The athlete cohort were divided by predominant training environment as either indoor, outdoor, or mixed training environment athletes. The average (±SD) 25(OH)D levels of the group were 111±37 nmol/L, with the indoor training group (90±28 nmol/L) significantly lower than the outdoor (131±35 nmol/L), and mixed (133±29 nmol/L) training groups (p=0.0001). Anthropometrical measures were positively associated with 25(OH)D levels; however, recent injury status or sun protection practice showed no association. Given the significant differences in 25(OH)D levels between the outdoor and indoor predominant training environments, coaches of indoor athletes may wish to monitor their athletes’ Vitamin D levels throughout the year, in order to avoid any possibilities of a deficiency occurring.