Effects of a paddle match on the urinary excretion of trace minerals in high-level players

Abstract

Summary Purpose Trace elements are micronutrients involved in the maintenance of an optimum physiologic state which allows paddle players, a sport little studied until now, to have an adequate performance. Methods Seven urinary trace elements of 16 male high-level players were analyzed using ICP-MS chromatography before and after a paddle competition match. To contrast the results, t -Student and Wilcoxon tests were used. Results Copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) increased significantly its urinary excretion ( P P Conclusions The acute effect of a high-level paddle match is not entirely clear, since it has heterogenic effects on the minerals excretion: the biological elimination of some metals involved in antioxidant and energetic functions increased, which seems to indicate a rise in its organic metabolism, whereas other minerals did not seem to be affected by this type of efforts. Li excretion decreased, which might be a sign of a homeostatic retention process of this element.