SIGNIFICANCE MINERALS FOR YOUNG ATHLETES
Center of Sports Medicine FMBA of Russia, Moscow
Introduction
From
a physiological point of view, many minerals are of major importance for the
high intensity physical activity given their role in the maintenance of muscle
contraction, nerve impulse, transport of oxygen, activation of enzymes, immune
function, anti oxidant activity, bone health, and acid-base balance of blood
(Dressendorfer et al., 2002) .
The
aim of the study is assessment
of mine ral status in the hair of young athletes. Methods The content of
magnesium, zinc and calcium in the hair samples of 15 young athletes
(figure skaters) and 28 healthy
children aged 12-16 years was investigated. We used a method of mass
spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer «Elan-9000’, the
optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma optical emission
spectrometer for «Optima 2000DV».
Results
It
was revealed that the level of magnesium, calcium and zinc was significantly
lower in the hair of y oung athletes than in the hair of the control group:
magnesium 84,3±4,8 vs. 171,6±3,9 (p<0.05); zinc 158.5±7,2 vs. 204,5±6,4
(p<0.05) (Micheletti, 2001); copper 11,4±0,8 vs. 15,4±0,4(p<0.05). Following
the mineral screening, the athletes were given individual a dvice on the basis
of gender, age, micronutrient deficiencies, and physical ac tivity. Repeated
hair samples were taken one month after the correction. It was shown that the
correction of nutrient intake with mineral supplements led to an significant
increase in the mineral cont ent of hair samples.
Conclusions
Identified
deficit of the minerals in the hair of athletes is probably due to two reasons:
the loss of macro-and micronutrients with sweating (Maughan, 2000) and their
movement into the intracellular region
(in the active muscle cells). Correction changes can lead to better tolerance
of stress among athletes who require special endurance (Lukaski, 2001).
References
Dressendorfer
R. et al. Mineral metabolism in male cyclists during high-inten sity endurance
training. Int J Sp ort Nutr Exerc Metab. 2002;12(1):63-72.
Lukaski
H. Magnesium, zinc, and chromium nutrition and athletic performance. Canadian J
Appl Physiol 2001, 26:13-22. Maughan R.
Nutrition
and the young athlete. // Sports Medicine 2000, 4:51-58.
Micheletti
A. Zinc status in athletes: Relation to diet and exercise. Sports Medicine 2001,
31:577-582.