Effect of an Acute Exercise Until Exhaustion on the Serum and Urinary Concentrations of Cobalt, Copper, and Manganese Among Well-Trained Athletes

Abstract

The current information about the effect of physical exercise on the body concentrations of several minerals is still limited, both in the acute (short-term) and adaptive (long-term) responses. So, this manuscript aims, on the one hand, to assess the possible differences on basal levels of cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) concentrations in serum and urine between athletes and sedentary participants and, on the other hand, to evaluate the effect of an acute progressive physical exercise until voluntary exhaustion on the serum and urinary concentrations of Co, Cu, and Mn. Two groups participated in this survey, one was formed by untrained, sedentary males (CG; n = 26), and the other group was constituted by national endurance (long and middle distances) athletes (AG; n = 21). All participants were from the same region of Spain. Participants of both groups performed a physical test on a treadmill, reaching voluntary exhaustion. Blood and urine samples of each participant were collected before and at after the tests. Once obtained and processed, the concentrations of Co, Cu, and Mn elements were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The differences in the studied variables were evaluated using a mixed model by means of an ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests. In the comparison of the pre-test values between groups, the results showed that serum concentrations of Mn were significantly lower in CG than in AG (p < 0.01). In urine, Co and Mn levels were significantly higher among CG participants (p < 0.01) than among AG ones, while in the case of Cu, the values were lower (p < 0.01) in the CG than in the AG. Regarding the effects of the effort tests, no significant changes were found among the participants of the CG. It was observed that the serum concentrations of Co (p < 0.05) and Cu (p < 0.01) decreased after the test among the AG participants. Also, the results showed that there were no statistical differences in Co and Mn values (expressed in μg/g creatinine). However, the urinary post-test Cu concentrations were lower (p < 0.05) among AG participants. In basal conditions, serum concentrations of Mn were significantly lower in CG than in AG. In urine, Co and Mn levels were significantly higher among CG participants and Cu level was significantly lower in CG, a fact which may reflect adaptive responses to exercise. An incremental exercise to exhaustion in AG produces a decrease in Co and Cu serum concentrations, as well as in urinary excretion of Cu.

Influence of a 6-month physical training program on serum and urinary concentrations of trace metals in middle distance elite runners

“…Serum Co concentration was similar in both groups, but urinary concentration was significantly higher in CG than AG. These results are similar to those found by Muñoz et al (2019), also in high-level athletes, indicating that they could be due to an adaptive process to maintain normal values in serum and avoid a deficit of the element that could have negative consequences for the maintenance of erythropoiesis [12].…”

“…The high serum Mn concentration found at the start of the study, but not at the end, in AG participants, is similar to other studies and could also be caused by a possible iron deficiency in athletes [10, 12, 13], a fact that would increase Mn absorption, as indicated by Park et al (2013) [27] or a decrease in urinary elimination in AG. However, it is interesting to highlight that at the end of the study the serum concentration of Mn in the AG is similar to those of the CG, accompanied by a significant increase in urinary elimination, which would reveal a possible renal adaptation with training.…”

“…However, the main effect was observed between groups. Three previous studies indicated that physical exercise results in large increases in urinary excretion of Cu [12, 19, 20]. As shown by Muñoz et al (2019), the increased urinary Cu obtained in this survey among AG participants may be related to the biological mobilization of this mineral induced by physical training, as has been described previously [20].…”

“…In relation to the elements analyzed, Tables 3 and 4 show that all serum and urinary metal concentrations were within the normal values reported in previous surveys [10, 12], developed with a similar technique and expressed in the same units (μg/L).…”

Alterations in manganese level in the biological samples of young obese Saudi women

“…Data on the impact of sports activity on manganese levels is limited. 38 According to the WHO 2016 diabetes country profile, Saudi women were among those with the highest prevalence of physical inactivity in the world at 67.7%. 2 Scientific evidence has confirmed that physical activity is directly related to the trace element concentration in women's toenails.…”