Blood and serum status of water- and fat-soluble vitamins in athletes and non-athletes.

Water- and fat-soluble vitamins have a key function in many metabolic processes and are of special importance for athletic performance. The water-soluble vitamins thiamine, riboflavin, and pyridoxine as well as the fat-soluble vitamins beta-carotene, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol were determined by methods based on high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in serum or blood of non-athletes and athletes of different sports such as bodybuilders, cyclists, cross-country skiers, marathon runners, and swimmers. The values for the water-soluble vitamin were much higher in athletes, whereas the values for the fat-soluble vitamins were not much different compared to those found in non-athletes.