Photo: Chipmitten, Flickr

As someone who huffed and puffed her way around the track this morning for a sprint workout, I was very interested to learn about a new study pointing to vitamin D for improved running performance.

A recent article in The New York Times reported on the effects of vitamin D in two groups of runners from Russia and Germany. "In one of the studies, four Russian sprinters were doused with artificial, ultraviolet light. Another group wasn't. Both trained identically for the 100-meter dash." In the end, the control group improved its speed 1.7 percent, while the ultraviolet runners improved an impressive 7.4 percent. OK, now we're talking. A 7.4-percent improvement would knock nearly 18 minutes off a four-hour marathon. Anyone who runs long distances knows how brutal those final minutes can be. Cutting them out of the equation would be heavenly.

Another study reported that athletes who train outdoors year-round are fittest in August, when the sun's radiation is at its highest. In September, fitness levels begin to drop, corresponding to decreased levels of ultraviolet radiation.

Interestingly enough, the article also reported on a more recent study in Baton Rouge, La., where 40 percent of a group of distance runners had insufficient levels of vitamin D. Didn't their southern miles give them enough sun exposure? Researchers theorize that the runners most likely ran in early-morning or late-evening hours to avoid the heat and sun. So, while they were outdoors, they missed their dosage of vitamin D by being out at the "wrong" time.

Are athletes now getting a mixed message? One of the main sources for vitamin D -- sunlight -- is something we have been told to avoid. That could be the very thing that helps us improve performance, though, not to mention build strong bones, immune systems, muscles and cells. And it does not take an entire day at the beach without sunscreen for your body to produce this key nutrient, experts say about 15 minutes in the sun should do it.

Some scientists conclude, "Vitamin D may improve performance in vitamin D-deficient athletes," (with the emphasis being on those who are already deficient). So before we start popping extra vitamin D, our doctors should test our levels first. Based on my sprint times this morning, maybe I should schedule an appointment.

That's not all vitamin D has been given props for. Another recent study indicated that it may help with weight loss too.