BackgroundThe aim of this survey was to determine the effects of an aerobic physical training program of six months duration on the serum and urinary concentrations of essential trace elements among middle distance runners and untrained, non-sportsmen participants.Methods24 well-trained, middle-distance (1500 and 5000 m), aerobic male runners (AG) were recruited at the beginning of their training season and 26 untrained males formed the control group (CG). All participants were from the same region of Spain, and all of them had been living in this area for at least two years. Serum and urine of samples of Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Selenium (Se), Vanadium (V) and Zinc (Zn) were obtained at the beginning of the training season, and six months later, from all participants. All samples were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).ResultsTwo-way ANOVA showed significant differences relative to group effect in serum concentrations of Co, Cu, Mn, Mo, Se and Zn. Attending to time effect, there were differences in Mn (p = 0.003) and Zn (p = 0.001). The group x time interaction revealed differences only in the case of Mn (p = 0.04). In urine, significant differences between group were obtained in Co, Cu, Mn, Se and V. Time effect showed changes in Co, Cy, Mo and Se. Finally, the group and time interaction revealed significant differences in urinary Cu (p = 0.001), Mn (p = 0.01) and Se (p = 0.001).ConclusionsA six-month aerobic training program for well-trained athletes induced modifications in the body values of several minerals, a fact which may reflect adaptive responses to physical exercise. The obtained data could be interesting for physicians or coaches in order to consider specific modifications in sportsmen’s diets as well as to determine specific nutritional supplementation strategies.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to observe the concentrations of trace metals boron, lithium, rubidium, antimony, tin and strontium in the serum of athletes from different modalities and sedentary subjects and the possible influence that different energy sports training modalities can have on their concentration.MethodsEighty professional athletes and 31 sedentary males participated in the present survey. All of them were living in Cáceres (Spain). Serum boron, lithium, rubidium, antimony, tin and strontium analysis was performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).ResultsThe results show higher concentrations in athletes on tin (p < 0.01), rubidium and antimony (p < 0.001) than the control group. In the case of tin, this item had the highest concentrations only in aerobic sports modalities. Regarding rubidium and antimony, the highest concentrations are found in athletes with lower oxygen consumption (aerobic-anaerobic) (p < 0.001), followed by anaerobic group (p < 0.001).ConclusionOur research shows that, probably due to increased water and air intake, especially, trace elements rubidium, antimony and tin reveal major differences in serum concentration of athletes in relation to sedentary subjects. On the other hand, physical training does not change the serum concentration of Boron, Lithium and strontium.

The aim of the present study was to determine changes occurring in serum and urine concentrations of essential trace elements with proven essentiality (molybdenum, selenium, and zinc) as a result of performing an acute physical activity until exhaustion in middle- and long-distance runners who live in the same area of Extremadura (Spain). Twenty-one Spanish national middle- and long-distance runners and 26 sedentary students of a similar age were recruited for the study. Both groups ran on a treadmill until exhaustion, starting at a speed of 10 and 8 km/h, respectively, and increasing the speed at 1 km/h every 400 m, without modifying the slope, always within the recommended parameters. Serum and urine samples were obtained from all subjects before and after the tests. Analysis of trace metals was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Resting serum and urinary concentrations between groups were compared using the Student t test, and the Wilcoxon test was used to analyze the trends of changes before and after the effort. The results showed that molybdenum concentrations were significantly higher in athletes than in controls (p < 0.01). Selenium (p < 0.05) and zinc (p < 0.01) concentrations were significantly lower in athletes than in controls. When we compared the serum concentrations before and after the test in the controls, only in the case of selenium (p = 0.006), a significant increase was observed after the test. However, this signification disappears with the corrections for hematocrit. Athletes' serum concentrations of Se (p = 0.004) and Zn (p = 0.005) lowered at the end of the test. Also, the results showed that there were no statistical urinary concentration (expressed in μg/g creatinine) changes in Mo and Se. Zn urinary concentration increased at the end of exercise (p = 0.018), since an incremental exercise to exhaustion in middle- and long-distance elite athletes produces a decrease in Se and Zn serum concentrations but Zn urinary concentration increased. In conclusion, athletes show higher serum concentrations of molybdenum and lower serum concentrations of selenium and zinc than sedentary subjects. Additionally, a treadmill test until exhaustion provokes a decrease in serum concentration of selenium and zinc and a higher excretion of urinary zinc. Serum concentrations of Se and Zn should be carried out in order to avoid any possible deficit cases and to establish the optimal supplementation.

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine changes occurring in the erythrocyte concentrations of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) in male subjects with different training levels living in the same region (Spain). Methods: Thirty sedentary subjects (24.34 ± 3.02 years) formed the control group (CG); 24 moderately trained (4-7 h/week) subjects (23.53 ± 1.85 years) formed the group with a moderate degree of training (MTG) and 22 professional cyclists (23.29 ± 2.73 years), who performed more than 20 h/week of training, formed the highlevel training group (HTG). Erythrocyte samples were collected from all subjects in fasting conditions, washed and frozen at − 80°C until analysis. Erythrocyte analysis of trace elements was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: The results showed that there was a statistically significant lower erythrocyte concentration of Cu, Mn, Mo and Zn in the MTG and HTG than CG. Se was only significantly lower in HTG than CG. The correlation analysis indicates that this change was correlated with training in the case of Cu, Mn, Se and Zn. All results are expressed in μg/g Hb. Conclusions: We can conclude that physical training produces a decrease in erythrocyte concentrations of Cu, Mn, Se and Zn, which can cause a decrement in athletes' performance given the importance of these elements. For this reason, erythrocyte monitoring during the season would seem to be advisable to avoid negative effects on performance.

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