METABOLISM FEATURES IN HIGHLY TRAINED HOCKEY-PLAYERS DURING CONTEST SEASON

Aim. To evaluate the dynamics of metabolic status features in highly trained hockey-players during contest season.

Materials and methods. 33 highly trained hockey-players were examined. Their mean age was 26.4±0.8 years old. The study was performed during contest season. The blood samples were taken 3 times: after 2.5, 4 and 6 months from the beginning of the games. Blood samples were analyzed with the use of standardized reagent kits and automatic biochemical analyzer “Konelab-20” company "Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc" (Finland). Ferritin, myoglobin, erythropoietin, testosterone and cortisol were detected using ELISA. Anabolism index was calculated for integrated evaluation of body status. The statistical data processing was conducted with the use of statistical program StatEX-2004.2.

Results. High levels of cortisol in hockey-players provided evidence about psychoemotional strain during hockey season. Performed biochemical analyses showed unfavorable changes of metabolism in functioning of hockey-players’ organisms. The sportsmen were overtrained during the most part of competition period. The catabolic processes in sportsmen are typical during overtraining; these processes promote to maximum optimization of energetic processes in human body. The decrease of total protein level, increase of concentration of protein degradation products (urea and uric acid up to pathologic values), misbalance of normal mechanisms of lipid metabolism provided evidence on these processes. High physical and mental loads lead to cardiac muscle fatigue. A deficiency of magnesium may aggravate the processes and causes muscular weakness and cardiovascular diseases. It should be noted that pathologic values of lipid metabolism are risk factors of cardiovascular pathologies.

Conclusion. The revealed unfavorable features of metabolic processes in highly trained hockey-players during contest season cause the need to correct them by measures aimed to support cardiac muscle and optimize its work, to decrease atherogenesis and to correct the nutrition of sportsmen.