Author/Authors :
Malliaropoulos, Nikolaos National Track & Field Centre - Sports Injury Clinic - Sports Medicine Clinic of S.E.G.A.S., Thessaloniki, Greece , Tsitas, Kostas National Track & Field Centre - Sports Injury Clinic - Sports Medicine Clinic of S.E.G.A.S., Thessaloniki, Greece , Porfiriadou, Anthoula Technological Institute - Physiotherapy Department, Thessaloniki, Greece , Papalada, Agapi National Track & Field Centre - Sports Injury Clinic - Sports Medicine Clinic of S.E.G.A.S., Thessaloniki, Greece , Ames, Paul R Rheumatology & Haematology Departments - Airedale Foundation Trust, Steeton, UK , Buono, Angelo Del Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery - Campus Biomedico University of Rome - Via Alvaro del Portillo, Rome, Italy , Lippi, Giuseppe Dipartimento di Patologia e Medicina di Laboratorio - Azienda Ospedaliero- Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy , Maffulli, Nicola Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine - Bart’s and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry - Mile End Hospital, London, UK
Abstract :
Purpose: This study tested the clinical utility and relevance of serum
phosphorus and magnesium as markers possibly useful to monitor training in
athletes.
Methods: Phosphorus and magnesium serum concentrations of 130 elite track
and field athletes (65 males and 65 females, age range 20-30 years) from the
National Athletics Sports Medicine Center database in Thessaloniki, Greece
were measured.
Results: Abnormal results were found in 61 (47%) athletes (32 men and 29
women). In male athletes, serum phosphate was higher than normal in 18% and
decreased in 1.5%, whereas serum magnesium concentration was higher in
26%, and lower in 3%. Regarding female athletes, higher serum phosphate and
magnesium levels were detected in 26% and 17% respectively, whereas
decreased serum magnesium was found in 3%. The most common alterations
were higher serum phosphate (29/61, 47%) and magnesium concentrations
(28/61, 46%). Abnormalities of serum phosphorus and magnesium
concentrations were detected in almost half of the athletes.
Hyperphosphataemia and hypermagnesaemia were the most common
abnormalities.
Conclusion: The reference intervals used for general population cannot be used
for athletes. Given the lack of pathological manifestations, the physiopathological
significance of these findings is uncertain. Further studies on the
interpretation of reported ion concentrations in athletes should take in account
the type of sport practiced and also the possible variations during the training
and competition season.
Keywords :
Hypermagnesaemia , Hypomagnesaemia , Hypophosphatemia , Hyperphosphataemia , Athletes
