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25(OH)D LEVELS OF TRAINED V. SEDENTARY COLLEGE STUDENTS AT 64° N

Abstract

S. Jerome, K. Sticka, T. Schnurr, A. Reynolds, K. Dunlap

University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK

This research was presented by representatives from the Alaska chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Vitamin D3 and vitamin D2 are fat-soluble, secosteroid compounds necessary for proper human health. Due to small sun angles in winter months, 7-dehydrocholesterol cannot be converted to vitamin D3 in the skin at latitudes greater than 35° to 37°. Studies have shown that vitamin D sufficiency is positively correlated to proper muscle function while deficiency is associated with pain and weakness. PURPOSE: 1) To determine if endurance athletes living above 64° N are at greater risk of 25(OH) vitamin D ((25(OH)D) deficiency or insufficiency than sedentary non-athletes living at the same latitude; and 2) to examine the validity of 25(OH)D as an predictor of overtraining syndrome (OTS) in endurance athletes. METHODS: 32 students from the University of Alaska Fairbanks volunteered for this study. All were non-pregnant, non-diabetic, from 18 to 25 years of age. The participants consisted of two groups: sedentary students (SS) and trained student-athletes (TS). SS engaged in regular, moderate physical activity for no more than 20 minutes per bout, one bout per week, over the three months prior to the study. TS were recruited from two varsity athletic teams, cross country running and cross country skiing, and had been training from 10 to 20 hours per week for at least three months prior to data collection. Vitamin D intake was assessed using the National Cancer Institute’s Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Recall system. Participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) Short Form by which Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) scores in minutes/week were calculated. Fasting serum 25(OH)D was measured with an ELISA. RESULTS: MET-minutes (U=7.00, p

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