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Mar 28

Vitamin D Does More Than Just Boost Your Mood – Runner’s World

Fitness Comments Off on Vitamin D Does More Than Just Boost Your Mood – Runner’s World

For those who run outside in the sunshine or even take additional supplements, vitamin D could potentially boost your lean body mass, a recent study suggests.

Published in the Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, the research sought to clarify whether one year of supplementation with vitamin D would have a measurable effect on body composition and physical fitness levels of healthy adults.

Researchers from China and Japan recruited 95 participants, and gave half of them 420 IU vitamin D3 every day for a year, while the other half got a placebo. At the end of the year, lean body mass and percentage of body fat were compared to the data from the years start. They also assessed physical fitness using hand grip strength, leg extension power, and cardiorespiratory fitness.

They found that those taking the supplement had significant increases in lean body masswhich is calculated by subtracting body fat from total body weightwhile the placebo group had no changes. For both groups, no difference was observed with the above physical fitness measures either.

The results are likely because skeletal muscle has vitamin D receptors that help regulate muscle function and performance, as suggested by previous research.

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Even though this particular study concluded there were no changes in muscle strength with vitamin D, other studies have suggested improvement in lean body mass may enhance muscle function overall. For instance, a 2017 study published in the journal PLOS One noted theres a link between low vitamin D levels and loss of muscle strength, especially in older adults. Another study in the journal Bone Reports stated that vitamin D has long been touted for its beneficial effects on bone heath, but is now increasingly recognized for its role in muscle functionespecially with muscle pain and weakness.

Although supplements can be helpful in the winter months for those living in northern climates, its also worth getting a bit of vitamin D in its most available formsunshine!said Heidi May, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at Intermountain Healthcare.

We continue to learn more and more about vitamin D and its benefits, she told Runners World. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with everything from poor cardiovascular health to lower immune function. If youre getting a little sun, in a sensible way, youre likely also being active, so thats a double benefit.

If you do opt for supplements, theres still some debate on how much vitamin D you need daily. The recommended daily allowance is 600 IU, but the Endocrine Society suggests consuming potentially much higher levels of 1,500 to 2,000 IU daily.

In addition to getting outside more, look to foods like swordfish, salmon, tuna, milk, yogurt, eggs, and cheese to get enough vitamin D. For instance, three ounces of cooked swordfish contains 566 IU (international units) of vitamin D and 3 ounces of cooked sockeye salmon contains 447 IU of vitamin D.

If youre concerned that you may be deficient, May said, its advisable to get your levels checked at your next physical, since a blood test is the only way to know for sure. Consult your doctor before taking any supplements, too.

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Vitamin D Does More Than Just Boost Your Mood - Runner's World

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