When to use this
When winter training, bone-stress history, or repeated illness makes vitamin D worth raising with a runner's family.
- A distance runner with a stress-fracture history trains mostly indoors or through dark winter months.
- An athlete keeps getting sick or dragging through a training block despite decent sleep and food.
- A parent asks about vitamin D pills and the better first answer is food sources plus a physician conversation about testing.
Evidence sources
These references support the handout’s general education. Individual medical, supplement, laboratory, or injury questions should be handled by the appropriate qualified clinician.
- Owens DJ, Allison R, Close GL. (2018) Vitamin D and the athlete: Current perspectives. Sports Medicine, 48(S1):S17-S29.
- Thomas DT, Erdman KA, Burke LM.(2016) ACSM/AND/DC Joint Position Statement: Nutrition and Athletic Performance.
Where to go next
