{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,3]],"date-time":"2026-10-03T17:47:40Z","timestamp":1791049660958,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2013,5,28]],"date-time":"2013-05-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1369699200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Vitamin D is well known for its role in calcium regulation and bone health, but emerging literature tells of vitamin D\u2019s central role in other vital body processes, such as: signaling gene response, protein synthesis, hormone synthesis, immune response, plus, cell turnover and regeneration. The discovery of the vitamin D receptor within the muscle suggested a significant role for vitamin D in muscle tissue function. This discovery led researchers to question the impact that vitamin D deficiency could have on athletic performance and injury. With over 77% of the general population considered vitamin D insufficient, it\u2019s likely that many athletes fall into the same category. Research has suggested vitamin D to have a significant effect on muscle weakness, pain, balance, and fractures in the aging population; still, the athletic population is yet to be fully examined. There are few studies to date that have examined the relationship between vitamin D status and performance, therefore, this review will focus on the bodily roles of vitamin D, recommended 25(OH)D levels, vitamin D intake guidelines and risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency in athletes. In addition, the preliminary findings regarding vitamin D\u2019s impact on athletic performance will be examined.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu5061856","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2013,5,28]],"date-time":"2013-05-28T12:17:33Z","timestamp":1369743453000},"page":"1856-1868","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":152,"title":["Vitamin D and the Athlete: Risks, Recommendations,  and Benefits"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"5","author":[{"given":"Dana","family":"Ogan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Health Science, Central Washington University,  400 E. University Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kelly","family":"Pritchett","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Health Science, Central Washington University,  400 E. 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