Influence of an exercise until exhaustion in serum and urinary concentrations of toxic minerals among professional athletes, a preliminary approach.

The aim of the present survey was to determine differences in the serum and urinary concentrations of several toxic trace elements (As, Be, Cd, Cs and Pb) between long distance runners and non-sportsmen living in the same area of Extremadura (Spain) in basal conditions as well as after the performance of a maximal effort test until exhaustion. 21 Spanish national long-distance runners were recruited before the start of their training season and 26 untrained students. All of them had similar ages. The effort test consisted in running on a treadmill incrementally in stages, until exhaustion. Serum and urine analysis of trace metals was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In the statistics the urine and blood basal concentrations was analyzed first using Student t test. Then the differences between the pre and post-test values were analyzed using Wilcoxon test. The serum concentrations of Be (p < 0.001), Cd (p < 0.01), Cs (p < 0.001) and Pb (p < 0.001) were higher in the athletes than the control groups in basal conditions. In relation to the exercise, the results showed that there were lower serum concentrations of Be, Cd and Pb after the test, but without statistically significance, in both groups. Cs (p < 0.001) concentrations were statistically lower after the exercise tests in both groups, but if the parameters were corrected in relation to hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations the differences were significant only among the athletes. In urine, the concentrations of Be (p < 0.001) and Cd (p < 0.01) were higher among athletes than among controls, being the opposite case for urinary Pb values. In relation to the exercise-induced effect of the test, the results showed that among controls only Cd values were modified, but if creatinine corrections are applied this difference does not reach statistical significance. However, sportsmen suffered a diminution in Be values, that can be observed only if urine values are corrected. Also, an increase in Cd, both in corrected and normal values, was observed, fact that occurred also in the case of Cs, but only if urinary values are corrected. It can be concluded that an incremental exercise to exhaustion among elite athletes of long distance modalities can produce changes in serum and urinary concentrations of toxic trace elements which may reflect an adaptive mechanism to prevent toxicity, and which could be an interesting outcome for physicians in the treatment and prevention of toxic situations.

Influencia de la actividad física sobre la eliminación urinaria de minerales y elementos traza en sujetos que viven en la misma área geográfica / Influencia da atividade física sobre a excressão urinária de minerais eoligoelementos em sujeitos que vivem em mesma área geográfica / Influence of physical activity on urinary excretion of minerals and traceelements in subjects who live in the same geographic area

Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer las concentraciones de los macroelementos magnesio y fósforo, y de los elementos traza arsénico, boro, litio, cesio, rubidio, estaño y estroncio, en orina de sujetos sedentarios y deportistas, que viven en la misma región. Método. Se analizó la concentración urinaria de los metales descritos antes. La muestra estaba constituida por un grupo de 21 atletas de fondo y un grupo control formado por 26 sujetos sedentarios. Se registraron medidas antropométricas, la frecuencia cardíaca y la presión arterial en reposo. Fueron sometidos a una prueba de esfuerzo para determinar la frecuencia cardíaca máxima, el consumo máximo de oxígeno, la ventilación pulmonar y el cociente respiratorio. Se tomaron muestras de la primera orina de la mañana de todos los sujetos. Resultados. Los atletas presentaron valores significativamente inferiores (p < 0.001) en índice de masa corporal, grasa corporal (p < 0.001) y frecuencia cardíaca de reposo (p < 0.001). La frecuencia cardíaca máxima, el consumo máximo de oxígeno (p < 0.001) y la ventilación pulmonar (p < 0.05) fueron mayores en el grupo de atletas respecto al grupo control. No existieron diferencias significativas en las concentraciones urinarias de fósforo, arsénico, boro, litio, rubidio y estroncio. Las concentraciones urinarias de magnesio (p < 0.001) y estaño (p < 0.05) fueron menores en los atletas que en el grupo control. Además, las concentraciones urinarias de cesio (p < 0.05) eran mayores en deportistas respecto al grupo control. Conclusiones. Los concentraciones de los elementos analizados se encuentran en rangos normales, no existiendo, por tanto, riesgo para la salud. La realización de entrenamiento sistemático provoca una menor eliminación de magnesio y estaño y mayor de cesio, que evitaría la toxicidad por su acumulación, no perjudicando su rendimiento (AU)

Objetivo. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar as concentrações do macroelementos magnésio e fósforo, e oligoelementos arsênio, boro, lítio, césio, rubídio, estanho e estrôncio de urina indivíduos sedentários e atletas que vivem na mesma região. Método. Foi avaliada a concentração urinária dos metais acima mencionados. A amostra foi constituída por um grupo de 21 atletas de fundo e um grupo de 26 indivíduos sedentários para grupo controle. Medidas antropométricas, frequência cardíaca e pressão arterial de repouso foram registrados. Eles foram submetidos a um teste de estresse para determinar frequência cardíaca máxima, o consumo máximo de oxigênio, ventilação pulmonar e quociente respiratório. Foram coletados as amostras da primeira urina da manhã de todas os sujeitos. Resultados. Atletas tiveram valores significativamente menores (p < 0.001) no índice de massa corporal, gordura corporal (p < 0.001) e frequência cardíaca em repouso (p < 0.001). A frequência cardíaca máxima, o consumo máximo de oxigênio (p < 0.001) e ventilação pulmonar (p < 0.05) foram maiores no grupo de atletas no grupo de controle. Não houve diferenças significativas em concentrações urinárias de fósforo, arsénio, boro, lítio, rubídio e estrôncio. As concentrações urinárias de magnésio (p < 0.001) e estanho (p < 0.05) foram mais baixas nos atletas do que no grupo de controle. Além disso, as concentrações urinárias de césio (p < 0.05) foram maiores em atletas em comparação com o grupo de controle. Conclusões. As concentrações dos elementos analisados se encontram em intervalos normais, portanto, não há risco para a saúde. A realização de treinamentos sistemáticos provoca uma menor excreção de magnésio, estanho e césio que evita maior toxicidade por acumulo, não prejudicando o desempenho (AU)

Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of macroelements magnesium and phosphorus, and the trace elements arsenic, boron, lithium, cesium, rubidium, tin and strontium in urine of sedentary subjects and long distance athletes, who live in the same area. Method. It was evaluated the urinary concentration of the metals mentioned before. The sample consisted of a group of 21 long-distance athletes. Twenty-six sedentary subjects formed the control group. The procedure consisted of recording anthropometric measurements, heart rate and blood pressure at rest. Then a stress test was performed to determine the maximum heart rate, maximum oxygen consumption, pulmonary ventilation and respiratory exchange ratio. Samples of the first morning urine of all subjects were obtained. Results. Athletes had significantly lower levels (P < .001) of body mass index, body fat (P < .001) and resting heart rate (P < .001). Maximum heart rate and maximum oxygen consumption (P < .001) and pulmonary ventilation (P < .05) were higher in the group of athletes. No differences were observed in urinary concentrations of phosphorus, arsenic, boron, lithium, rubidium and strontium. Urinary concentrations of magnesium (P < .001) and tin (P < .05) were lower in athletes than the control group. However, urinary concentrations of cesium (P < .05) were higher in athletes compared to the control group. Conclusions. Mineral concentrations analyzed are in normal values, so there is no risk to health. Training induces a less urinary excretion for magnesium and tin and an increase in cesium excretion, avoiding the toxicity because of cesium accumulation, without a performance decrease (AU)

Comparison of urine toxic metals concentrations in athletes and in sedentary subjects living in the same area of Extremadura (Spain).

Cadmium (Cd), tungsten (W), tellurium (Te), beryllium (Be), and lead (Pb), are non-essential metals pervasive in the human environment. Studies on athletes during training periods compared to non-training control subjects, indicate increased loss of minerals through sweat and urine. The aim of this study was to compare the level of these trace elements, determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in urine samples, between athletes and age-matched sedentary subjects living in the same geographical area, although anthropometric and cardiovascular measurements showed that athletes have significantly (P ≤ 0.001) lower BMI, body fat and heart rate, whereas the muscle and bone percentage was significantly (P ≤ 0.001) higher than in sedentary subjects. The validity of the methodology was checked by the biological certified reference material. Trace element analysis concentrations, expressed in µg/mg creatinine, of five toxic elements in urine from athletes (n = 21) versus sedentary subjects, (n = 26) were as follows: Cd (0.123 ± 0.075 vs. 0.069 ± 0.041, P ≤ 0.05); W (0.082 ± 0.053 vs. < limit of detection); Te (0.244 ± 0.193 vs. 0.066 ± 0.045, P ≤ 0.001), Be (0.536 ± 0.244 vs. 0.066 ± 0.035, P ≤ 0.001); Pb (0.938 ± 0.664 vs. 2.162 ± 1.444 P ≤ 0.001). With the exception of Pb, urine toxic metal concentrations from athletes were higher than from sedentary subjects. This fact suggests that physical activity counteracts, at least in part, the cumulative effect of toxic environment by increasing the urine excretion of toxic metals in trained people.