Effect of a three-month football training program on trace element metabolism of boys in the eight to twelve age group

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the effects of a three-month football training program on some trace elements in the serum in male kids aged between eight and twelve years. The study registered eight boys whose mean age was 10.25 ± 0.75 years, mean height was 138.63 ± 3.28 cm and mean weight was 32.13 ± 2.72 kg. The subjects were regularly trained in the accompaniment of coaches for three months (four to five days a week). Blood samples of 5 ml each were taken into plain tubes from the subjects twice, once at the beginning of the study and the other at the end of the three-month training sessions, after 12 h of nocturnal fasting. Serum cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) levels were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results were expressed in mg/L. Cadmium, molybdenum, copper and zinc (p<0.05) values were measured after the study and were found significantly lower than those before the study. Results of this study demonstrate that three-month football training significantly reduced cadmium, molybdenum, copper and zinc values in eight to 12-year-old boys. The decrease in zinc levels in particular may be critical for the athletes health and performance.

Key words: Football, boys, cadmium, molybdenum, copper, zinc.