Micronutrient Status in Females during a 24-Week Fitness-Type Exercise Program

Abstract

Thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B₆, magnesium, iron and zinc status, assessed from blood samples, was studied during a 24-week fitness-type exercise program. Subjects in exercise (n = 21) and control (n = 18) groups were female university students, aged 18-33 years. Erythrocyte (E) transketolase and glutathione activation coefficient, serum magnesium, zinc and ferritin, blood hemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular volume were similar in both groups throughout the entire study. E-aspartate aminotransferase activation coefficient (vitamin B₆ status) increased (4%) in exercise and decreased (7%) in control groups (p = 0.04), respectively. E-magnesium was stable in exercise but decreased (4%) in control groups (p= 0.004%). E-zinc increased (9%) in exercise subjects but remained stable in controls (p < 0.0001). A marginally altered vitamin B₆ status was the only negative change found in exercise subjects.

Direct and Functional Biomarkers of Vitamin B6 Status

“…A 24 week fitness-type exercise program did not appreciably affect vitamin B6 status (EAST-AC) in young women (61), nor did a study on exercise-induced lactate in young adults (62), or moderate exercise among women (134). A transient increase in plasma PLP that decreased after 1 hr was observed among three groups of women (young, young/untrained, post-menopausal/untrained) during the exercise period (134).…”

- Fluid and Electrolyte Requirements for Female Athletes

“…Similar results are expected in female athletes and active women. For instance, Fogelholm (1992) assessed thiamin status before and after a 24-week exercise program in female college students (18 to 33 years). No changes were seen in biochemical markers of thiamin after the 24-week exercise program.…”

A–Z of nutritional supplements: dietary supplements, sports nutrition foods and ergogenic aids for health and performance: Part 41

“…Some studies reported thiamin status to be adequate8 9 and, moreover, that exercise training does not appear to alter thiamin status 10. Similarly, studies on cobalamin also observed adequate status in athletes 4.…”

“…Data on riboflavin are mixed, with some studies reporting poor status in athletes12 13 and it has been suggested that riboflavin requirements may be higher than the recommended nutritional intake (RNI) for athletes than for the general population 4. Similarly, poor pyridoxine status in male and female athletes has been documented in some studies 10 12. Exercise training has been found to increase pyridoxine requirements due to greater losses and turnover suggesting that athletes undergoing heavy training might require more pyridoxine than current RNI 14.…”