Trace Elements in Medicine (Moscow)
2019, 20(1): 27-34
ORIGINAL PAPERS

CONTENT OF SOME MINERALS AND IRON IN THE FOOD RATION AND THE BLOOD SERUM OF PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES

R.M. Radzhabkadiev, O.A. Vrzhesinskaya, V.M. Kodentsova

Federal Research Centre of Nutrition and Biotechnology, 2/14, Ustinskij pr., Moscow, 109240, Russian Federation

DOI: 10.19112/2413-6174-2019-20-1-27-34 

ABSTRACT. The purpose of the work is to assess the mineral status of highly skilled athletes (92 men and 67 women) in various sports for the pre-competition period. Data on the content of mineral substances (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, iron) in the basic and supplementary diets, as well as in blood serum of athletes are presented. Current Dietary Reference Intake levels were used to determine the adequacy of intake. The most of the athletes surveyed had insufficient level of calcium, potassium and iron in the basic diet under excessive intake of sodium and phosphorus. All athletes had unbalanced intake of calcium and phosphorus (the ratio was 0.42–0.71 versus the optimal 1.0). The basic diet benefication with specialized products for sport nutrition and multivitamin-mineral supplements allowed to achieve an adequate consumption of most mineral substances. The calcium: phosphorus ratio exceeded 0.8 in 28.6 per cent of athlets. Unreasonableness of the use of excessively high doses of mineral substances in the diet of sportsmen has been discussed. A careful individual approach to the selection of nutritive supplements taking into account the consumption with basic diet is required to ensure adequate intake of minerals and trace elements and at the same time to not exceed the safe level of its consumption.

KEYWORDS: minerals, iron, consumption, mineral status, blood serum, athletes, nutritional supplementation.