By David Liu, PHD

Friday March 2, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- As an athlete, you always want to improve your performance.  A report released in the DEC 2011 issue of Asian Journal of Sports Medicine suggests you should take vitamin D supplements or expose yourselves to the sun often.

Vitamin D has been known to food consumers primarily for its role in bone health.  Recent studies show vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency is associated with a myriad of chronic diseases or disorders such as cancers, arthritis, diabetes, depression, and cardiovascular disease.

Recent research has shown that inadequate vitamin D levels may have an impact on athletic performance, said B.  Hamilton, author of the report who is affiliated with Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar.

In fact, according to the author, in the early 20(th) Century, athletes and coaches believed that ultraviolet rays, which triggers bio synthesis of vitamin D in humans, had a positive impact on athletic performance and a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that vitamin D plays a role in athletic performance.

Hamilton said vitamin D receptors have been found in muscle tissue indicating that this sunshine vitamin affects skeletal muscle structure and function, which is important for athletics.