Correlations between Basal Trace Minerals and Hormones in Middle and Long-Distance High-Level Male Runners

Several essential trace minerals play an important role in the endocrine system; however, toxic trace minerals have a disruptive effect. The aim of this research was to determine basal concentrations and the possible correlations between trace minerals in plasma and several plasma hormones in runners. Sixty high-level male endurance runners (21 +/- 3 years; 1.77 +/- 0.05 m; 64.97 +/- 7.36 kg) participated in the present study. Plasma hormones were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and plasma trace minerals were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Correlations and simple linear regression were used to assess the association between trace minerals and hormones. Plasma testosterone concentrations were inversely correlated with manganese (r = -0.543; beta = -0.410; p < 0.01), selenium (r = -0.292; beta = -0.024; p < 0.05), vanadium (r = -0.406; beta = -1.278; p < 0.01), arsenic (r = -0.336; beta = -0.142; p < 0.05), and lead (r = -0.385; beta = -0.418; p < 0.01). Plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were positively correlated with arsenic (r = 0.298; beta = 0.327; p < 0.05) and cesium (r = 0.305; beta = 2.272; p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with vanadium (r = -0.303; beta = -2.467; p < 0.05). Moreover, cortisol concentrations showed significant positive correlations with cadmium (r = 0.291; beta = 209.01; p < 0.05). Finally, insulin concentrations were inversely related to vanadium (r = -0.359; beta = -3.982; p < 0.05). In conclusion, endurance runners living in areas with high environmental levels of toxic minerals should check their concentrations of anabolic hormones.