ABSTRACT
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate how exhaustion exercise affects testosterone levels and plasma lactates in road cyclists supplemented with oral zinc and selenium for 4 weeks
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four male road cyclists volunteers, were selected from the Tehran Traffic team, and based on BMI were divided into three groups; the selenium, zinc, and controls. The status of zinc and selenium in subjects was assessed at baseline. After 4 weeks of supplementation free, total testosterone, and lactate levels of all subjects were determined before and after exercise. Data was analyzed according to repeated measures ANOVA, and the Bonfferoni post hoc test, with a significance level of P<0.05
Results: Resting total, free testosterone, and lactate levels did not differ significantly between groups, and were increased by exercise [P>0.05]. Total testosterone levels in the Zn group were higher than in the Se group after exercise [P<0.05]. Free testosterone levels in the Zn group were higher than the other groups [P<0.05]. There was an insignificant difference between levels of lactate in the three groups after exercise [P>0.05]
Conclusion: According to this study, 4-week selenium and zinc supplementation had no significant effect on testosterone or lactate levels of subjects who had a zinc and selenium sufficient diet. Zinc supplementation increased levels of total testosterone in contrast with selenium group, and also increased free testosterone versus the other groups, whereas there was no change in the levels of lactate in the three groups post-test