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Gloria Delgadillo
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Young female athletes could have yet another reason to grab a glass
of vitamin D-rich milk. Not only does vitamin D work with calcium to
keep bones strong, but researchers now found that teenage girls with
higher vitamin D levels may be able to jump higher and faster than
their peers with lower levels, according to a new study published in
the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
UK researchers collected vitamin D levels for 99 girls, ages 12
to 14. To test the girls’ muscle function, the girls were instructed to
jump as high as possible while researchers used a device designed to
measure power and performance called jumping mechanography. After
controlling for differences in the girls’ body weight, the girls with
the highest vitamin D levels had the highest jump speeds, jump height,
power and force.
This potential muscle advantage adds to the growing list of
evidence positioning vitamin D as a super nutrient. Well known for its
role in keeping bones strong, vitamin D is now being hailed for so much
more. Emerging science suggests vitamin D may also help protect against
diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and certain cancers. It may also
support a healthy immune system to ward off infections, and some
preliminary evidence suggests it may affect longevity.
Yet despite a potential upside of boosting vitamin D levels,
Americans of all ages still fall short of their vitamin D needs. Even
in this study with demonstrated muscle benefits, overall, the girls’
vitamin D levels were far less than ideal – a finding consistent with
numerous studies indicating a resurgence in vitamin D deficiencies in
adolescence. In fact, current deficiency levels prompted the American
Academy of Pediatrics to double the vitamin D recommendations for
children and teens to 400 IU daily. The Academy estimates that up to
half of adolescents have low vitamin D levels.
The recommended three glasses of lowfat or fat free milk a day
delivers 75 percent of the vitamin D that’s needed each day. Milk
remains the leading source of vitamin D in the American diet – it’s one
of the few food sources of the super nutrient. Plus, along with vitamin
D, milk is a good source of calcium and high-quality protein – two
nutrients vital to help teens maintain bone density and lean muscle.
Source: Weber Shandwick Worldwide
Original article: Ward KA, Das G, Berry JL, Roberts SA, Rawer R, Adams JE, Mughal Z.
Vitamin D status and muscle function in post-menarchal adolescent
girls. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2009;94:559-563.
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