Vitamin D awareness and intake in collegiate athletes

Authors: LEITCH, BENNETT - University Of North Dakota; WILSON, PATRICK - Old Dominion University; Ufholz, Kelsey; Roemmich, James; ORYSIAK, JOANNE - Institute Of Sport - National Research Institute; WALCH, TANIS - University Of North Dakota; SHORT, SANDRA - University Of North Dakota; FITZGERALD, JOHN - University Of North Dakota

Submitted to: The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/3/2019
Publication Date: 7/31/2019
Citation: Leitch, B.A., Wilson, P.B., Ufholz, K.E., Roemmich, J.N., Orysiak, J., Walch, T.J., Short, S.E., Fitzgerald, J.S. 2019. Vitamin D awareness and intake in collegiate athletes. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003240.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003240

Interpretive Summary: Low vitamin D intake may harm health and performance of athletes. Athletes’ awareness of vitamin D for their health and performance may help to improve their intake of vitamin D. However, little is known about athletes’ awareness and beliefs about vitamin D affect their consumption of vitamin D. Investigators at the Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center in collaboration with those from the University of North Dakota found that collegiate athletes intake of vitamin D was only about one-half of the recommended daily allowance. Athletes recognized that vitamin D “probably” or “definitely” will play a role in their health (88.9%) and athletic performance (71.6%). However, only one-quarter of athletes reported concern for their vitamin D levels or believed that they were at risk for deficiency. Athletes with greater vitamin D awareness had greater vitamin D intake. Given the lack of awareness concerning risk of vitamin D deficiency, and the links between aspects of vitamin D awareness and vitamin D intake, nutritional education programs designed to increase vitamin D awareness in athletes may be an effective strategy to reduce deficiency.

Technical Abstract: Poor vitamin D status is a risk factor for negative health and performance outcomes in athletes, but little is known about how athletes’ awareness and beliefs about vitamin D affect their consumption of vitamin D. This observational study investigated awareness of vitamin D for health and performance among collegiate athletes and evaluated the association of vitamin D awareness with its dietary intake. Fifty-two female and 29 male Division I collegiate athletes completed an online vitamin D awareness and dietary intake questionnaire between November 1, 2015 and January 30, 2016. Median intake of vitamin D was 330 IU, which is below the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 600 IU, but was greater in males (693 IU) than females (263 IU, p<0.01). The RDA for vitamin D was met by 62% of men and 30% of women. Athletes responded that vitamin D “probably” or “definitely” will play a role in their health (88.9%) and athletic performance (71.6%). However, only 23.4% and 28.4% of athletes reported concern for their vitamin D levels or believed that they were at risk for deficiency, respectively. Results showed small to moderate, positive correlations (r=0.28-0.495, p<0.05) between aspects of vitamin D awareness and vitamin D intake, particularly with supplemental forms of vitamin D. Given the lack of awareness concerning risk of vitamin D deficiency, and the links between aspects of vitamin D awareness and vitamin D intake, nutritional education programs designed to increase vitamin D awareness in athletes may be an effective strategy to reduce deficiency.