Effects of baseline serum levels of Se on markers of eccentric exercise‐induced muscle injury

Abstract

Inflammation and oxidative stress have been implicated in the mechanism of eccentric exercise-induced muscle injury. This study examined whether baseline serum levels of selenium (Se), a trace element that participates in both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory systems, affects the overall response to injury. Thirteen males performed 36 maximal eccentric actions with the elbow flexors of the non-dominant arm on a motorized dynamometer. Venous blood samples were collected immediately before and after exercise at 2, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. Established indicators of muscle damage such as maximum isometric torque (MIT), range of motion (ROM), relaxed arm angle (RANG), flexed arm angle (FANG), arm circumference (CIRC), muscle soreness and serum levels of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined at the same time points. Baseline serum levels of Se were also measured. Complementary data regarding assessment of Se status were retrieved by the use of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. All measures changed significantly (p<0.05) after exercise. The main finding of this study was that baseline Se serum levels were associated inversely with CK, LDH and FANG and positively with MIT and ROM (p<0.05). These data suggest that beyond overt Se deficiency, suboptimal Se status possibly worsens muscle functional decrements subsequent to eccentric muscle contractions.

Serum Total Selenium Status in Greek Adults and Its Relation to Age. The ATTICA Study Cohort

“…Our results show a higher mean serum selenium concentration (91.8 μg/L, N= 506) compared to the studies of Van Cauwenbergh et al [7] (∼68 μg/L, N=160) and Kostakopoulos et al [16] (∼55 μg/L, N=100), while studies of Schrauzer et al [8] (∼130 μg/L) and Kallistros et al [15] (∼136 μg/L, N=40) have demonstrated mean serum selenium concentrations which is well within the range of the plasma Se levels observed by our group in the age group between 20 and 40 years.. Finally, our results are in agreement with the study of Milias et al [17] (∼80 μg/L). A number of reasons may explain the different results of our study compared to the previous studies on Greek populations, such as the much lower number of participants of the other studies compared to ours and also the different nutritional habits of Greeks 15-20 years ago when the previous studies were published.…”

Effect of Selenium Supplementation on Lipid Peroxidation, Antioxidant Enzymes, and Lactate Levels in Rats Immediately After Acute Swimming Exercise

“…Therefore, selenium must necessarily have remarkable effects on muscle functions. The fact that selenium deficiency in exercising individuals has been shown to lead to impairments in muscle contractions [39] is an important report that supports our argument. Hornberger et al [33] reported that selenium deficiency led to a decline in selenoprotein levels, which resulted in a deficiency in muscle functions.…”

Nutritional and Supplementation Strategies to Prevent and Attenuate Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: a Brief Review

“…This review outlined a wide assortment of ingredients, functional foods, and dietary supplements that have been shown to affect EIMD-related outcomes, with varying levels of success. In addition to the topics covered in the present review, many emergent nutritional and supplementation strategies have not been fully explored, including black tea-sourced polyphenols [161], blueberries [162], chondroitin sulfate [163], high chlorogenic acid coffee [164], fasting [165], garlic [166], leucine metabolites such as HICA [167], lemon verbena [168], lychee [169], mate tea [170], pequi fruit [171, 172], quercetin [173], saffron [174], selenium [175], sesame [176], spinach [177], and tomato juice [178, 179]. Future research in these nascent areas may shed new light on potential treatment options for EIMD.…”