86 / 90
F
ernandes
and
B
arreto
J
unior
554
R
ev
A
ssoc
M
ed
B
ras
2017; 63(6):550-556
The sufficiency of vitamin D has been related to the
mental health of the individuals due to the presence of
receptors of this vitamin in cells inside the brain,
52-54
also favoring their cognitive performance.
55,56
25(OH)D,
in a cross-sectional analysis, was associated with the
cognitive decline of subjects over 65 years.
57
Therefore,
both the practice of physical activity and the status of
vitamin D are relevant to the reduction of common men-
tal illnesses.
52-58
C
onclusion
According to the studies included in our narrative review,
there is an elevation of the plasma concentration of vita-
min D both with physical activity indoors and outdoors.
However, randomized controlled trials are needed to com-
pare the synthesis of vitamin D (serum level) associated
with physical activity in both settings, so that the differ-
ence between the groups would be the incidence or absence
of sunlight alone.
R
esumo
Associação entre atividade física e vitamina D: revisão
narrativa da literatura
Esta revisão narrativa da literatura avaliou se tanto a
atividade física realizada ao ar livre quanto aquela em
ambiente interno aumentariam os níveis plasmáticos da
vitamina D. A síntese dessa vitamina lipossolúvel ocorre,
principalmente, por meio da radiação solar na pele, que,
após sofrer processo de ativação no organismo, estabelece
sua principal ação no controle dos níveis séricos do cálcio,
assim que é absorvido no trato intestinal, auxiliando na
regulação do metabolismo ósseo. Atividade física é qualquer
movimento corporal que resulte em gasto energético,
enquanto atividade física ao ar livre é aquela realizada em
parques ou praças, cuja prática mais popular é a caminhada.
Esse ambiente externo teria os benefícios propriamente
ditos da atividade física, além da exposição solar com a
TABLE 1
Summary of studies in the narrative review: Outdoor physical activity and synthesis of vitamin D.
Studies
Year Sample Study design Main findings
Pagels et al.
31
2016 196
Cross-sectional
Suberythemal exposure to the sun contributed to the synthesis of vitamin D
Florez et al.
32
2007 291
Cross-sectional
The practice of outdoor physical activity decreased the prevalence of
hypovitaminosis D
Valtueña et al.
33
2014 408
Cross-sectional
Outdoor physical training is the appropriate way to increase the plasma
concentration of vitamin D in athletes
Scragg and Camargo
39
2008 15,148 Cross-sectional
The association between physical activity and vitamin D was stronger outdoors
compared to indoor environments
TABLE 2
Summary of studies in the narrative review: Indoor physical activity and synthesis of vitamin D.
Studies
Year
Sample
Study design Main findings
Scott et al.
34
Gerdhem et al.
35
Scott et al.
36
Bell et al.
37
2015
2005
2010
1988
615
986
686
28
Cohort
Cohort
Cohort
Cohort
Exercising indoors would also result in increased levels of vitamin
D, suggesting that vitamin D concentration is not only attributed
to high sun exposure
Touvier et al.
40
2015
1,828
Cross-sectional There was an association between physical activity and vitamin D,
even after adjusting for exposure to the sun and outdoor sports
Maimoun and Sultan
41
2009
24
Systematic
review
Other factors, which are known and altered by physical activity,
may contribute to elevated vitamin D levels in athletes
Kimlin et al.
43
2014
1,002
Cross-sectional Modifiable factors related to sun exposure could help maintain
healthy vitamin D status, such as decreased clothing coverage,
rather than increasing the duration of exposure to ultraviolet rays
Van den Heuvel et al.
44
2013
1,255
Cross-sectional High-intensity physical activity had the strongest positive association
with vitamin D levels
Wanner et al.
38
2015
6,370
Cross-sectional Physical activity is associated with high serum levels of vitamin D,
regardless of the practice environment, outdoors or indoors