Recent increase in Vitamin D levels in Elite Irish Athletes

Created March 2017

Vitamin D Status and Supplementation Practices in Elite Irish Athletes: An Update from 2010/2011.

Nutrients. 2016 Aug 9;8(8). pii: E485. doi: 10.3390/nu8080485.

Todd J1, Madigan S2, Pourshahidi K3, McSorley E4, Laird E5, Healy M6, Magee P7.

Elite Irish Athletes appear to be supplementing with Vitamin D * <20 nanograms of vitamin D: 55% in 2010, but only 14% in 2014 * Equatorial travel and sun bed use was NOT associated with higher levels of vitamin D * Athletes who supplemented were 4 times more likely to have higher vitamin D levels See also VitaminDWiki * 5,000 IU daily was just enough vitamin D for Irish athletes in the winter – March 2013 * Elite Athletes Try a New Training Tactic: More Vitamin D - WSJ Jan 2016 Increased use of D category listing has items along with related searches * Vitamin D supplementation in Ireland - big increase in people with 20-50 nanograms in 20 years – June 2015 * Vitamin D in US children: those having more than 40 ng increased 60 percent (2001-2010) - Dec 2016 * Vitamin D levels in US: percent having more than 40 ng doubled (2001-2010) - Dec 2016 * 4 times fewer with vitamin D deficiency in just 4 years ( Connecticut) – March 2016 Overview Sports and vitamin D has the following summary {include}

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Vitamin D deficiency is a global health concern that is prevalent in Ireland. The vitamin D status of elite Irish athletes following implementation of a revised supplementation policy in 2010/2011 has not been explored to date. This study aimed to assess the vitamin D status of elite Irish athletes participating in high-profile sports and establish if equatorial travel, supplementation and/or sunbed use predict vitamin D status. Across Ireland, blood samples (n = 92) were obtained from cricketers (n = 28), boxers (n = 21) and women's rugby sevens players (n = 43) between November 2013 and April 2015. Total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were quantified using LC-MS/MS. Parathyroid hormone and adjusted calcium concentrations were measured by clinical biochemistry. Athletes completed a questionnaire that queried equatorial travel, supplementation and sunbed use. Vitamin D sufficiency (25(OH)D >50 nmol/L) was evident in 86% of athletes. Insufficiency (31-49 nmol/L) and deficiency (<30 nmol/L) was present in only 12% and 2% of athletes respectively.

On average, athletes from all sport disciplines were vitamin D sufficient and 25% reported vitamin D supplementation which was a significant positive predictor of vitamin D status, (OR 4.31 ; 95% CI 1.18-15.75; p = 0.027).

Equatorial travel and sun bed use were reported in 47% and 16% of athletes respectively however these factors did not predict vitamin D status (both p > 0.05).

Although different cohorts were assessed, the overall prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency was 55% in 2010/2011 compared with only 14% in 2013/2015. Targeted supplementation is highly effective in optimising vitamin D status, negating the need for blanket-supplementation in elite cohorts.

PMID: 27517954 PMCID: PMC4997398 DOI: 10.3390/nu8080485

Tags: Europe Increased use of D Sports