The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of glycerol supplementation on aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance in sedentary subjects and athletes. The glycerol supplement treatments were as follows: 40 volunteers were selected and divided into two groups, sedentary and exercise groups. These two groups were further subdivided into two groups. The first group, the placebo (S), only consumed water; the second group (GS) consumed glycerol followed by water. Neither of these groups did any exercise for 20 days. The third and fourth groups consisted of the exercise group subjects; they were required to perform a 20-m shuttle run test every day for 20 days. The third group’s subjects, the placebo (E), only consumed water. The last group (GE) consumed glycerol followed by water. The Astrand Cycle Ergometer Test (ACET) was performed, and the Cosmed K4b2 portable gas analysis system was used to determine the aerobic capacity, while the Wingate Anaerobic Power Test (WAPT) was performed to determine the level of anaerobic power. The 20 Meter Shuttle Run Test (20MSRT) was performed after glycerol supplementation throughout the 20 days, and the exercise periods and distances were recorded.The glycerol supplement was found to have an increasing effect on aerobic and anaerobic performance in GS, E and GE. A similar effect was found for the covered distances and time in the same groups. However, an adverse effect was found on body weight.

Purpose: This study aimed at examining the effects of preparation period exercises, which were applied for eight weeks to elite level taekwondo athletes, on the hematological parameters. Material: Totally 21 athletes with international degrees from the university taekwondo team participated in this study, 12 of whom were female (Mean age: 20.3 - Mean exercise age: 8.8) and 9 of whom were male athletes (Mean age: 20.3 - Mean exercise age: 9.5). The participants attended an 8-week exercise program for 5 days a week, which included basic motoric features and technical and tactical development. 4 cc blood samples were taken from the right antecubital vein before and after the preparation period exercises. On the blood samples, WBC, GRAN, GRAN %, LYM, LYM %, MID and MID % values were examined among leukocyte sub-groups; RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC and RDWC values were examined among the erythrocyte sub-groups, and PLT, MPV, PCT and PDW values were examined among thrombocyte sub-groups. Results: At the end of the study, we determined that there was a statistically significant increase in the MCHC values of both the male and the female taekwondo athletes. Moreover, it was determined that there were statistically significant decreases in the HCT, MCV, MCH, MPV and PCT values of the female taekwondo athletes, and in the MCV, MPV and PCT values of the male taekwondo athletes. Conclusions: As a conclusion, we can state that the 8-week exercises applied during the preparation period affected the hematological parameters of the male and female taekwondo athletes to an extent, however, this effect was limited and it did not cause an important change.

Many researchers have emphasized the relation between nutrition and development and sustaining performance. Two methods are commonly employed to identify the interaction between physical activity and nutrition. The first consists of administering food with a variety of contents to people engaged in physical activity and observing their performance responses, and the other is concerned with determining the effects of physical activity on nutrition. Therefore, it can be said that there has been a growing interest in the explorations into the relation between exercise and vitamins, minerals, and elements. The present study reports the effects of 6 weeks administration of 300 mg/day vitamin E on the distribution of serum elements in elite taekwondo athletes. Seven male athletes, mean ages 22.1 ± 0.5 years weighing on average 66.4 ± 2.4 kg were included in the study. The athletes had been practicing taekwondo for 10-12 years. Resting blood samples were collected in duplicate before and after supplementation for determination of serum levels of cobalt, boron, cadmium, chromium, nickel, manganese, sulfur, copper, iron, zinc, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and calcium. Supplementation resulted in significant increases of all elements relative to values before supplementation (p < 0.001), with the exception of boron and sulfur, which remained without change. The results of the present study demonstrate that vitamin E supplementation crucially influences the element and mineral metabolism in elite athletes.

The present study aims to examine the effects of both physical activity and vitamin A supplementation on trace element metabolism in individuals engaged in taekwondo. The study registered seven healthy male national taekwondo players whose mean age was 21.86 ± 0.34 years and mean weight was 64.86 ± 2.72 kg. The subjects were supplemented with oral administration of 100 mg vitamin A (retinol) for 6 weeks, and concurrently, they were subjected to taekwondo training 5 days a week. Before starting the vitamin A supplementation, blood samples were taken from the subjects twice, once at rest and once after exhaustion. Similarly, at the end of the 6-week vitamin A supplementation, two blood samples were taken from the subjects, once at rest and once after exhaustion, in order to determine (by atomic emission) and compare serum cobalt, molybdenum, calcium, cadmium, chromium, copper, manganese, sodium, nickel, phosphorus, sulfur, iron, boron, and zinc (mg/L) levels. Values of boron and nickel dropped significantly after 6-week vitamin A supplementation (p < 0.001). Reduced levels of boron and nickel we obtained in the present study are believed to result from the antioxidant effect of long-term vitamin A supplementation.

Background and objective: The knowledge on the effects of para-badminton sport on physiological parameters is relatively limited in the literature. This study aims to examine the effects of moderate-intensity badminton training on the hematological parameters of elite para-badminton athletes. Methods: A total of 12 para-badminton athletes, 6 female and 6 male, with international competitive experience in the Turkish Para-Badminton National Team, participated in the study. A 90-minute badminton training was applied to the athletes for their technical and tactical development. A 4 mL blood sample was taken before and after the training. Hematological parameters were analyzed from these blood samples. White blood cells, red blood cells, platelets count, and their particular subgroups such as hemoglobin, hematocrit, granulocytes, and lymphocytes were examined as the hematological parameters in this study. Results: The findings revealed that the female para-badminton athletes exhibited a significant increase in white blood cells, granulocytes percentage, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets values after training compared to pre-training. It was determined that there were significant increases in white blood cells, granulocytes, granulocytes percentage, red blood cells, and hematocrit values for male para-badminton athletes after training compared to pre-training, and significant decreases in lymphocytes percentage values. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study showed that a single 90-minute moderate-intensity badminton training session leads to physiological changes on the blood parameters of elite para-badminton athletes. These changes, which differ by gender, can affect the health and performance of the athlete.