High prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among elite Spanish athletes the importance of outdoor training adaptation

• Published in: Nutrición hospitalaria : organo oficial de la Sociedad Española de Nutrición Parenteral y Enteral Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 124 - 131
• Main Authors: Valtueña, Jara, Dominguez, D, Til, L, González-Gross, M, Drobnic, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain Grupo Arán 01.07.2014; Arán Ediciones, S. L
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Adolescent; Adult; Concentraciones de 25(OH)D; Cross-Sectional Studies; Deportistas de élite; Entrenamiento; Exposición solar; Female; Humans; Male; Modalidades deportivas; Nutrition & Dietetics; Prevalence; Seasons; Spain; Sports - physiology; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Young Adult; Spain; Training; Entrenamiento; Sun exposure; Elite ahtletes; 25(OH)D concentrations; Sports modalities; Modalidades deportivas; Deportistas de élite; Concentraciones de 25(OH)D; Exposición solar
• ISSN: 0212-1611; 1699-5198
• DOI: 10.3305/nh.2014.30.1.7539

The discovery of vitamin D muscle receptors in the last few years suggested a significant role in muscle tissue, pointing out athletes as a special group. Specific data are scarce. The main aim of the current paper was to provide, for the first time, comparable data about vitamin D status in elite Spanish athletes by sport, age, season and training environment. Four hundred and eight elite athletes with a mean age of 22.8 ± 8.4 years were recruited from the High-performance sport centre in Barcelona for this cross-sectional study. Athletes from 34 different sports modalities were analysed. Data were available for vitamin D status, training environment, seasonality and number of medical visits. All data were analysed using SPSS version 18.0. Mean 25(OH)D of all athletes was 56.7 ± 23.4 nmol/L. Approximately 82% of the athletes were below the optimal levels, (< 75nmol/l), 45% had moderate deficient levels (< 50 nmol/L) and 6% had severe deficiency (< 27.5 nmol/L). We have observed a steady increase in 25(OH)D concentrations with increasing age (p < 0.01) Highest levels were observed in those subjects training outdoors compared with those training indoor (p.