Dr. Vahur Ööpik is a professor of exercise physiology at the Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Estonia. His main research interests include the influence of high environmental temperature on physiological functions and
exercise performance, the physiological and performance effects of different acclimation/acclimatization programs, the influence of various nutritional
factors on exercise performance, and the efficacy of exercise training and
health. In the latter field, he has published several papers on the effects of
rapid weight loss on exercise performance in combat sports athletes, as well as
on the efficacy of using some dietary supplements in the context of rapid
weight loss and recovery from that in athletes. His current main research
project aims to elucidate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on
physiological functions, exercise performance, and health in vitamin
D-deficient individuals of different ages. The main classes taught by Prof. Vahur
Ööpik are human physiology, the biochemistry of exercise, and sports nutrition at
the Bachelor's level, the physiology of exercise and principles of research work at
the Master's level, and advanced courses on the physiology of exercise at the
doctoral level.
