Dietary, Serum and Urine Ascorbic Acid Status in Male Athletes

Abstract

The ascorbic acid (AA)-status of 14 marathon runners, 12 soccer players, 9 wrestlers, 9 basketball players and 16 controls was determined. A 7-day food weighed record was kept to quantify the AA-intake. In addition, the AA-serum concentrations and urinary ascorbate excretion were measured. The AA-intake of all 44 athletes (median, 26th-75th percentile) was 180.7 (188-239) mg/d, the serum concentration 70.6 (65.7-80.2 mumol/l) and the urine ascorbate excretion 1531 (391-2934) mumol/g creatine. No significant differences could be observed between the various sport groups, or between the sport groups and controls with respect to absolute (mg/d) and relative (mg/g body weight) AA-intake, serum and urine concentrations. Only a few of the athletes had AA-intake below the RDA or serum- or urine levels smaller than the decision limit. The absolute AA-intake (n = 44) from the 7-day record (r = 0.49, p < 0.0009) and the AA-intake on the last day (1-day) prior to urine collection (r = 0.90, p < 0.0000) correlate moderately/strongly with the urinary excretion. Between AA-intake (7-day) and serum concentration there is a correlation of r = 0.59, p < 0.0000. The AA-status of highly trained athletes does not differ significantly from the control group in spite of intensive daily training. Thus, AA-supplementation beyond the normal daily intake does not appear necessary.

Micronutrients: interaction between physical activity, intakes and requirements

“…Serum ascorbic acid concentrations were the same 49,54,75 or higher 76 in athletes than in controls. The pooled mean concentrations for serum or plasma ascorbic acid in the above studies were 59 and 56 mmol ⋅ L −1 for athletes (n = 533) and controls (n = 193), respectively.…”

Indicators of Vitamin and Mineral Status in Athletes' Blood: A Review

“…Therefore, supplement use should be prohibited in studies addressing the effects of athletic training on micronutrient status. Most studies on vitamin (20,26,40,42,64), magnesium (Table l), zinc (Table 3), copper (15,45,47,73,74), chromium (3), and selenium (25) status excluded athletes who used supplementation. Alternatively, a 2-week washout period was used before the blood specimen draw (22,24).…”

“…An overnight fast preceded the blood specimen draw in all studies on vitamin (20,22,26,31,40,42,64), zinc (Table 3), copper (15,45,47,73,74), chromium (3), and selenium (25) status. Two studies on magnesium (Table 1) and six on iron status (Table 2) did not follow an overnight fast protocol, but it is uncertain if this affected the comparison between athletes and controls.…”

“…Seven studies (20,22,26,31,40,41,64) were identified with results for both athletes' (in total 563 males and 20 females) and controls' (242 males and 33 females) vitamin status. Twenty-seven controlled studies on mineral status were found (3,4,11,12,(14)(15)(16)(17)22,(24)(25)(26)33,34,44,45,47,48,54,(60)(61)(62)(63)67,73,74,78), including 1,028 male and 473 female athletes and 688 male and 398 female controls.…”

Aspectos nutricionais do futebol de competição

“…Atletas submetidos a intenso programa de treinamento e competições têm possivelmente alguma dificuldade em manter níveis adequados de vitaminas 55 . O exercício pode causar a redistribuição dos minerais entre os compartimentos corporais 60,62 .…”