Vitamin D for Sprint Performance
Vitamin D matters if you are deficient and does nothing extra if you are not.
Overview
Verdict
How It Works
Dosing & Protocol
Typical dose
- Recommended dose
- 1000-2000 IU/day if deficient
- Expected timeframe
- 8-12 weeks
Protocol
- form
- Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) with a fat-containing meal
- duration
- Trials ran 8-16 weeks
- co factor
- Evidence is insufficient. Vitamin D receptors are present in skeletal muscle and severe deficiency causes proximal myopathy, which underpins interest in athletic populations - and deficiency is common in indoor-training athletes and those at high latitudes. Intervention trials tell a consistent story: supplementation in deficient athletes may restore function toward normal, but in athletes with adequate 25(OH)D, systematic reviews find no improvement in sprint time, vertical jump, peak power or anaerobic capacity. Close and colleagues found no performance benefit despite substantial rises in 25(OH)D.
- titration
- Not applicable for this outcome; 4,000 IU/day is the tolerable upper intake level for general use
- starting dose
- Not established for performance. Athlete trials used 2,000-5,000 IU/day of vitamin D3
Evidence
What the studies say
No studies are yet linked to both Vitamin D and Sprint Performance.
Safety
Caveats
Test first. Correction helps, excess does not.
Less likely to help if
Medical Disclaimer
The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before starting any supplement regimen.
Individual results may vary. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.