What role does VDR play in Sport?

VDR (Vitamin D Receptor) plays a role in sport performance through its regulation of calcium homeostasis, bone metabolism, muscle function, and immune modulation. Adequate vitamin D status is associated with improved muscle strength, faster recovery, and reduced injury risk. Genetic variants in VDR (e.g., FokI, BsmI, TaqI) have been linked to differences in bone density and muscle mass, but effect sizes are small and evidence is mostly observational. Currently, VDR genotyping cannot reliably guide personalized training or nutrition for athletes. Maintaining optimal vitamin D levels via sun exposure, diet, or supplementation is more impactful than any single SNP. Athletes training indoors or at high latitudes should monitor their vitamin D status. The predictive power of VDR variants for sport performance is limited. Evidence: human-moderate (observational studies, mechanistic plausibility).