Aluminum Concentrations in Male and Female Football Players during the Season.

Aluminum (Al) is one of the most abundant trace mineral elements in the earth's crust. Al is considered a potent neurotoxicant. Physical exercise could cause modifications in some trace mineral elements. On the other hand, there could be sex differences in the exposure and deposits of toxic mineral elements. The aim of the present study was to compare sex and seasonal differences in extracellular and intracellular Al concentrations in football players. The study involved 22 male and 24 female football players from the fifth and second national category, respectively. Three assessments were carried out during the season (beginning, middle and end). Al concentrations in plasma, urine, erythrocytes and platelets were determined. Male football players ingested more Al (p < 0.05). Higher plasma Al concentrations were reported in male football players (p < 0.01). On the other hand, in both groups, increases and decreases in Al in the plasma and urine were observed in the second and third assessment, respectively (p < 0.01). There were sex differences in platelet Al concentrations (p < 0.05). Plasma and platelet Al concentrations may be different between the sexes. Al concentrations may change over the course of a season in football players.

Changes in Hematological Parameters of Iron Status and Total Iron Concentrations in Different Biological Matrices during a Sports Season in Women's Soccer Players.

Iron (Fe) metabolism and concentrations change during a sports season. Fe deficiency affects a significant number of women athletes. The aims of the present study were: (i) to analyze changes in hematological parameters of Fe status and (ii) to analyze changes in Fe concentrations in different biological matrices (serum, plasma, urine, erythrocytes, and platelets) during a sports season. Twenty-four Spanish semi-professional women's soccer players (23.37 ± 3.95 years) participated in the present study. Three assessments were performed throughout the sports season (beginning, middle and end of the season). Nutritional intake was evaluated and female hormones, hematological parameters of Fe status and Fe concentrations in plasma, serum, urine, erythrocytes and platelets were determined. There were no differences in Fe intake. Hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations increased at the end of the season compared to initial values (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in extracellular Fe concentrations (plasma, serum, and urine). However, erythrocyte Fe concentrations were lower at the end of the season (p < 0.05). Hematological parameters of Fe status and intracellular Fe concentrations change throughout the sports season in women's soccer players.

Sex differences in cadmium and lead concentrations in different biological matrices in athletes. Relationship with iron status.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to analyse sex differences in cadmium and lead concentrations in plasma, urine, platelets and erythrocytes and to relate these concentrations to biomarkers of iron status. METHODS: A total of 138 soccer players divided according to sex: men (n = 68) and women (n = 70) participated in the present study. All participants resided in the city of Cáceres (Spain). Erythrocyte, haemoglobin, platelet, plateletcrit, ferritin and serum iron values were determined. Cadmium and lead concentrations were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The women had lower haemoglobin, erythrocyte, ferritin and serum iron values (p < 0.01). Regarding cadmium, the women showed higher concentrations in plasma, erythrocytes and platelets (p < 0.05). As for lead, they also showed higher concentrations in plasma, relative values of erythrocytes and relative values of platelets (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were observed between cadmium and lead concentrations with biomarkers of iron status. CONCLUSIONS: Cadmium and lead concentrations are different between sexes. Biological differences between sexes and iron status could influence cadmium and lead concentrations. Lower serum iron concentrations and markers of Fe status increase Cd and Pb concentrations. Ferritin and serum iron have been directly related to increased Cd and Pb excretion.

Total Iron Concentrations in Different Biological Matrices-Influence of Physical Training.

Iron (Fe) is one of the most widely studied trace mineral elements. Fe metabolism and homeostasis could be altered by physical training. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of long-term physical training on serum, plasma, urine (extracellular), erythrocyte and platelet (intracellular) Fe concentrations. Forty men from the same geographical area divided into a training group (TG; n = 20; 18.15 ± 0.27 years) and a control group (CG; n = 20; 19.25 ± 0.39 years) participated in this study. The TG was composed of soccer players of the highest youth category. The CG consisted of young people who did not follow any training routine and had not practiced any sport for at least the previous six months. The TG showed higher plasma and serum Fe concentrations (p < 0.05), but lower concentrations in erythrocytes and platelets compared to the CG (p < 0.01). Due to the differences observed in the extracellular and intracellular compartments, it seems necessary to perform a global Fe analysis to assess Fe status.

Serum and urinary concentrations of arsenic, beryllium, cadmium and lead after an aerobic training period of six months in aerobic athletes and sedentary people.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible effect of a period of 6 months of aerobic physical training on serum and urinary concentrations of arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), potentially toxic minerals. METHODS: Twenty-four well-trained, long distance runners (AG), were recruited at the start of their training period. They had been performing training regularly for the previous 2 years, recording an average volume of 120 km per week of rigorous aerobic exercise aimed at high-level competitions (1500 and 5000 m race modalities). Twenty-six untrained, sedentary participants constituted the control group (CG). All participants had been living in the same geographic area for at least 2 years before the start of the survey. Serum and urine samples were obtained from each participant at the beginning and at the end of the 6 months of the training program. The values of each mineral were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Additionally, the daily intake of each mineral was evaluated at both moments in time. RESULTS: The daily concentrations of trace elements in the diet were similar at the start and the end of the training period without differences between groups. In serum, significant differences between groups were observed in As, Cd and Pb (p < 0.05). Attending to time effects, a significant difference was obtained in Pb (p < 0.05). In urine, significant differences between groups were obtained in all minerals (p < 0.05). According to training period, significant differences were observed in As, Be and Pb (p < 0.05). Finally, the group x time interaction revealed significant differences in As and Be (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic training may constitute a possibly effective method for increasing the elimination of Cd and Pb potentially toxic minerals from the body, especially among highly trained individuals.

Oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation indexes and antioxidant vitamins in long and middle distance athletes during a sport season.

BACKGROUND: The main objective of this study was to observe any changes and possible adaptations produced in MDA and antioxidants vitamins on plasma and erythrocytes in endurance male athletes among an athletic season (12 months). METHODS: Twenty three long and middle distance male athletes participated in this study. Basal MDA on plasma and antioxidant vitamins in plasma and erythrocytes were measured at four moments along the season (0, 3, 6 and 9 months). Fatty acid concentrations in erythrocytes were obtained to determine lipid peroxidation indexes. RESULTS: In plasma, vitamin C suffered significant decreases at 3 and 6 months compared with the begin (P<0.01), and an increase at 9 months, compared with 3 months. On the other hand, vitamin A level was significantly lower at 9 months compared with the other periods (P<0.01 compared with 0 and 6 months; P<0.05 compared with 3 months). In erythrocytes, significant decreases were observed in vitamin E among the season at 6 months and an increase from 6 to 9 months (P<0.05). Vitamin A suffers a significant decrease in both for competitive periods, at 3 and 9 months, compared with the beginning of the season. The most of changes in lipid peroxidation indexes were produced along the firsts 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Physical training improves the antioxidant systems in order to reduce lipid peroxidation in trained athletes along the season; 2) PUFA/SFA ratios seem more reliable than MDA to observe oxidative stress.