Vitamin and mineral status in highly skilled ice hockey players during the competition period

Abstract

Objective: the evaluation of the micronutrient content in highly skilled hockey players during the competition period to reveal the influence of physical loads on the vitamin-mineral saturation of human organism. Materials and methods: contents of some micronutrients, cortisol and testosterone were analyzed in the blood samples of 33 sportsmen of continental league hockey team (average 26,4±0,8 years) during the competition period. Results: a high level of cortisol and a high anabolism index was revealed during the entire competitive period. The content of macroelements in the blood of the hockey players corresponded to the reference values, but the concentration of cuprum and chromium was reduced. Low values of the vitamins B2 and E were also detected in the blood of the athletes. Conclusion: the sportsmen became overtrained during the competition period. The high saturation of micronutrients corresponding to the physical loads was not observed; instead, a pronounced deficiency of some micronutrients was revealed. The physical loads in overtrained sportsmen caused a decrease of the micronutrient content in the sportsmen’s organisms. Therefore, sportsmen need the optimization of nutrition by the use of natural food products rich in micronutrients. The intake of biologically active supplements (chosen individually) should be a secondary measure only.

Keywords

• microelements
• macronutrients
• vitamins
• hockey players
• competitions