Exploring the Impact of Vitamin D on Iron Metabolism and Heart Damage in Ultramarathon Runners: A Summary of Stankiewicz et al. (2024)

Introduction

Exercise, particularly endurance activities like ultramarathons, can trigger inflammation that affects iron metabolism. At the same time, vitamin D3 is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the specific effects of vitamin D3 on heart damage and alterations in iron metabolism resulting from ultramarathon running have yet to be systematically studied. This summary presents the findings of a double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted by Stankiewicz et al. (2024), which examined the influence of vitamin D3 supplementation among runners participating in an ultramarathon.

Ultramarathon running takes it's toll on the human body

Study Design

The study involved 35 healthy, semi-amateur long-distance runners who were divided into two groups. One group received a substantial dose of 150,000 IU of vitamin D3 24 hours before the race, while the other group was given a placebo. Researchers measured various biochemical markers in the participants' serum, including serum iron, hepcidin (HPC), ferritin (FER), erythroferrone (ERFE), erythropoietin (EPO), neopterin (NPT), and cardiac troponin T (cTnT). The objective was to assess how ultramarathon running, alongside vitamin D supplementation, affected these markers.

Results

The findings revealed a significant impact of ultramarathon running on all measured biochemical markers. Participants in both groups exhibited increased levels of ERFE, EPO, HPC, NPT, and cTnT immediately after the race. Notably, vitamin D supplementation had a marked interaction with ultramarathon running, especially concerning EPO and cTnT, with no additional changes observed in the other markers. The research also identified a correlation between baseline ferritin levels and post-race ERFE levels, along with evidence that vitamin D influenced the response of hepcidin. While the ultramarathon significantly affected the interconnected EPO/ERFE/HPC axis, the high dose of vitamin D3 primarily impacted EPO levels, correlating with a decrease in the cardiac damage marker, cTnT, following the race.

Conclusion

This investigation provides valuable insights into the role of vitamin D in moderating exercise-induced changes in iron metabolism and heart damage during ultramarathons. Athletes who received vitamin D supplementation exhibited increased EPO levels alongside reduced indicators of heart damage post-race. Furthermore, the study indicated that alterations in iron metabolism hormones, triggered by the ultramarathon, were also influenced by the participants’ initial body iron stores. Additional research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms behind vitamin D's modification of this relationship, paving the way for potential dietary recommendations and supplementation strategies for endurance athletes.

Find Your Stride!