Effect of long-term aerobic, anaerobic and aerobic-anaerobic physical training in seric toxic minerals concentrations

Background: Many substances poured out from industries can be toxic to humans and can impair physical performance. Besides, physical training may modify the body concentrations of these substances as a result of physiological adaptations.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine if different modalities of exercise might affect serum concentrations of toxic trace elements in sportsmen.

Methods: 80 Spanish national sportsmen were recruited before the start of their training period. All the athletes had been training regularly for the previous two years with a rigorous training target at high-level competition. 31 sedentary participants from the same geographic area formed the control group. Serum arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, cesium and lead samples were analyzed with an ICP-MS.

Results: Serum concentrations were higher among the sportsmen group than among the control group, being highly significant in cases of Be from 0.043±0.019 to 0.074±0.029μg/L, Cs from 0.693±0.305 to 1.358±0.569μg/L and Pb from 0.162±0.171 to 2.375±1.699μg/L; and significant in the case of Cd from 0.046±0.027 to 0.067±0.059μg/L. However, if they were separated according to different sport modalities, it was found that, although they had higher concentrations than controls, there were elements that changed their concentrations in relation to the metabolic type of activity performed.

Conclusions: In some cases physical exercise induces favorable adaptations to avoid environmental pollution damage. Endurance training (65-75% VO_2max) can be considered the most effective exercise to prevent toxicity effects. However, integral-matrixes analysis are required in further research to overcome some controversial behaviors of some elements.