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New Research about Indoor tanning and JCTA response to the research continue reading

Elite Athletes Try a New Training Tactic: More Vitamin D Pro and college teams, including the Steelers, Red Wings and USC, think the nutrient may help players avoid injury, among other benefits Studies of professional and college teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, suggest there may be an advantage in making vitamin D intake a priority for athletes. WSJ's Rachel Bachman and University of Virginia director of sports nutrition Randy Bird explain on Lunch Break with Tanya Rivero. Photo: AP By RACHEL BACHMAN Jan. 25, 2016 1:05 p.m. ET 3 COMMENTS Professional and college sports teams think they have found a cutting-edge advantage hidden in one of the most basic nutrients: vitamin D. With millions of dollars at stake, elite teams are tracking player health more precisely than ever to make sure their athletes keep playing. As part of this push, teams in all U.S. major leagues, some college athletic departments and the U.S. men’s and women’s soccer teams have started monitoring players’ vitamin D levels and intake. A few are even recommending more time in the sun, which helps the body produce the nutrient. The focus on vitamin D is part of a growing emphasis on player wellness, from proper sleep to carefully planned nutrition, to maximize performance. Team officials also are acting on eye-opening research that suggests vitamin D deficiency might increase an athlete’s risk of injury. A study of the Pittsburgh Steelers published in 2015 in the American Journal of Sports Medicine was especially striking. It found that vitamin D levels were significantly lower in players with at least one bone fracture. Players who were released during the preseason due to injury or poor performance also had significantly lower D levels than those who made the team, the study found. A 2011 study of the New York Giants, presented at a meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, found an association between low vitamin D levels and injuries. Team officials launched that study to see whether levels of vitamin D, a hot research topic at the time, might be connected to soft-tissue injuries such as muscle strains, says Michael Shindle, the study’s lead researcher. The Detroit Red Wings’ team dietitian encourages the hockey players to get outside to soak up vitamin D through the sun. continue reading

Even if there was hard evidence that melanoma was UV-induced it would be all the more important to keep a protective tan,” says Dr. Sam Shuster, professor of dermatology at Newcastle University in England. continue reading

“I mean, this is Scotland for God’s sake,” Weller said. “These health messages come from Australia. They are completely inappropriate for Scotland. JCTA Note: this would hold true for Canadians continue reading

this article would hold true for Canadians continue reading