This could increase the risk of injury or decreased performance in young athletes.
- Indoor athletes can suffer from vitamin D deficiency
- Dietary supplements can fill these deficiencies
Do you like basketball? It would be better to practice it outdoors than indoors. According to research published in the journal Nutrientsyoung athletes practicing indoor sports are more likely to suffer from vitamin D deficiency. The researchers made this observation on university-level basketball players.
New study finds athletes who play indoor sports may be vitamin D deficient, putting them at risk for injury and poor performance, joint Mason & @MayoClinicHS effort https://t.co/8RpjuUuiFD @MasonCEHD @MasonAthletics @marchmadness #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/RsQlPhePL2
— George Mason CHHS (@MasonCHHS) March 9, 2020
Which supplement to choose?
Vitamin D has a protective role for the bones: it helps in their construction but also in their maintenance. In this study, scientists analyzed the vitamin D levels of 20 basketball players. Their objective was to measure the level of supplementation necessary, according to physiological criteria, such as body composition, skin pigmentation or exposure to the sun. “Many athletes take supplements, but we don’t yet know the optimal and safe dosage,” explains Dr. Sina Gallo, one of the study’s co-authors. According to her, previous research on the subject uses data from non-athletic, and often older, populations. “Many athletes do not get enough vitamin D through food, supplements are an effective, safe and affordable method to combat deficiencies, she adds. This could be particularly useful for athletes during the winter .”
Different risks depending on pigmentation
13 of the study participants had vitamin D deficiency at the start of the study. “This result is consistent with a recent analysis which showed that 56% of a sample of 2,000 athletes residing in 9 different countries, including the United States, had inadequate vitamin D levels.” the researcher. The analyzes carried out, thanks to the results obtained with basketball players, indicate that players with darker skin are more likely to suffer from deficiencies.
A widespread deficiency
Many people lack vitamin D. Research from Ireland shows that a quarter of people over 50 have insufficient vitamin D levels. If this is your case, it is safer to consult your doctor to discuss it with him, rather than resorting to self-medication. Overconsumption of vitamin D can be dangerous: a Canadian has damaged his kidneys for life after taking too many dietary supplements fortified with vitamin D.
.
