Vitamins in sport

Abstract

Vitamins play an important role in each phase of the metabolism, including the haemoglobin synthesis, maintenance of bone health, maintenance of the normal function of the immune system and defence against oxidative stress. After training and injuries, they help with the recovery and repair of muscle tissue. The regular, medium- and high-intensity physical activity, the constant, increased training load, the extreme use of the body may change the vitamin requirement. The amount and quality of micronutrients consumed via food have a decisive influence on the performance; the insufficient intake of vitamin D and vitamin B is common among athletes; furthermore, according to bibliographical data, the intake of vitamins with antioxidant effect is still below the minimal vitamin requirement for most athletes. Those athletes are endangered by the development of deficiency diseases resulting from insufficient vitamin intake, who follow a one-sided, extreme low-calorie and low-fat diet, and exclude one or more food products from their diet.

Consuming food supplements containing vitamin is reasonable in the case of proven deficiency among other things; it constitutes an essential element of sport nutrition ensuring the adequate vitamin status and its regular monitoring in order to reduce the potential performance-impairing effects and prevent injuries.