Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/31/2014 -- While proper nutrition and the addition of supplements can be beneficial to those wishing to increase athletic performance, one vitamin researchers are cautioning athletes to avoid is D2.
A study done at Appalachian State University’s Human Performance Lab revealed that athletes who engaged in intense muscle training or weight lifting had higher levels of muscle damage when taking a vitamin D2 supplement.
The research was designed to measure the effects on NASCAR pit crew athletes who took vitamin D2 supplements over a course of six weeks. Researchers measured muscle soreness and exercise-induced muscle damage by comparing two groups together.
Though researchers had initially expected the group taking the supplement to experience improved performance due to a reduction in inflammation, they found that taking the supplement (which is commonly used during winter months to replenish vitamin D lost from less exposure to the sun) actually caused more damage to muscles than occurred in the control group.
“Just about everyone has lower vitamin D levels in the winter,” advised the study author. Vitamin D has been shown to improve muscle function in older adults, but when adding vitamin D2 into the mix the vital component that assisted in this process, vitamin D3, actually increased and caused harm than good inside the body.
Researchers theorize that the vitamin causes something to occur at muscle level that worsens muscle damage following intense exercise. As a result, athletes looking to improve their performance in a chosen sport, or anyone undergoing high-intensity muscle training should avoid this supplement when bulking up their nutritional profile.
About Expert Brand
Expert Performance is a vertically integrated manufacturer of Performance Apparel. We have been making products both domestically and overseas for more than twenty years. Expert has been a leading innovator in the design and development of smart fabric technology to create and manufacture fashionable, high quality, functional garments for the active lifestyle, athletic, and sportswear markets. Our line of basic and specialty products cater to the needs of distributors, decorators, and retailers. We are proud to offer profitable opportunities to you, our partner.
For more information, visit Expert Brand’s website at http://expertbrand.com.
Media Contact
Adam Heimann
Director of Marketing / Media & PR
(786)266-9555
adam@expertbrand.com