A multivitamin is a dietary supplement containing a variety of vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional elements. A vitamin’s function in the human body is a metabolic regulator, which influences a number of physiological processes important to exercise or sport performance (1). Depending upon the sport and what it entails, for example, strength, speed, power, endurance, or fine motor control, athletes may supplement vitamins to increase specific metabolic processes important to improved performance. This paper will look at how vitamins work in the body, the prevalence of multivitamin use in athletes, observe the research methods used to measure whether or not the multivitamins improved performance, and examine the results of these studies to determine whether or not multivitamin use improves performance in athletes.
Each vitamin has a specific role in the body. A deficiency in vitamin A can lead to impaired gluconeogenesis and impaired vision at night. Vitamin B12, B6, and folic acid all play a role in Red Blood Cell formation. Vitamin B6 and Niacin help to convert carbohydrates to pyruvate. Thiamin helps to convert pyruvate to Acetyl Co-A. Vitamin B6, Niacin, and
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The supplementation of vitamins is usually only necessary when there is a deficit of the vitamin in the body. When corrected, an improvement in performance is noted. Multivitamins, when supplemented, generally do not improve the performance of athletes. A well balanced diet for an athlete will generally provide the RDA for most vitamins. When an athlete took more than the RDA for essential vitamins, performance was not improved. And while some vitamins are water-soluble, the athlete will excrete the excess, overdosing on the fat-soluble vitamins can be