[Iron, copper, manganese and zinc metabolism in athletes under high physical pressures]

Following the 50-kilometer ski race qualified athletes showed a significant decrease in the iron plasma content and formed elements of the blood. Concurrently the copper blood content also tended to decrease. The zink content had an opposite line of changes. The reduced zink blood content was associated with the augmented zink concentration in plasma. High physical exertion apart from the diet which was not balanced in trace elements produced the increased excretion of iron, copper, manganese and zink from the body of skiers with feces and partly with urine. Retention of trace elements supplied with the diet and their decreased excretion with feces were seen during rest after high physical exertion. There was also a partial making for trace element losses. The results suggest that the diet of athletes be enriched with trace elements, especially with iron in the course of rehabilitation after intensive training and competitions.