STUDY ON THE METABOLISM AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF WATER AND ELECTROLYTES TO ATHLETES DURING THE PERIOD OF ACUTE WEIGHT-REDUCTION / 中国运动医学杂志

ABSTRACT

A field study on 24 weigbt--lifters and an experiment on rats imitating kuman acute food restrictionwere done in order to find out the metabolism of water and electrolytes during the acute weight-reductionperiod and the effect of appropriate supplementation. The results showed that food restriction caused very significant loss of the water and electrolytes withsigns of muscle cramp, dehydration, ketonuria etc. The experimental results in rats were observed duringfood restriction as following 1. Serum potham and sodium decreased and the serum chloride and magnesium increased significantly. 2. Potassium and sodium contents of cardiac muscle were significantly lower than those of the control group,but potassium content of skeletal muscles was higber. 3. Blood lactic acid (3 minutes after running on a treadmill for half an hour ) was higber than thatbefote food restriction. Supplementation of appropriate minerals is beneficial to correct the above changes and keep the athletesfit and in good form.