Available: https://doi.org/10.54117/iijbs.v1i1.

2 Research article

IPS Interdisciplinary Journal of Biological Sciences

IPS Interdiscip J Bio Sci, 1(1): 1-7 (2021)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54117/iijbs.v1i1.2

Effect of Physical Exercise on Serum Electrolytes, Urea

and Creatinine in Undergraduate Footballers in Anambra
State, Nigeria
Michael Chinedu Olisah 1 and Dim Catherine Nicholate2
1Deparment of Medical Biochemistry and Chemical Pathology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli.
2Deparment of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli

*Correspondence: [email protected]; mobile no: +234(0)8038884404

Abstract Article History

Background: Prolonged exercise leads to progressive water and electrolyte loss from the body as sweat is Received: 04 June 2021
secreted to promote heat loss. The rate of sweating depends on many factors and is increased in proportion Accepted: 05 August 2021
to the work rate and the environmental temperature and humidity. Prolong exercise could lead to alteration Published: 09 Oct. 2021
in electrolyte concentrations and this could lead to deleterious effect in the body. Aim: To determine the
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effect of Physical Exercise on Serum Electrolytes Urea and Creatinine in undergraduate footballers in
Anambra State. Method: Six football teams comprising of 11 players each was grouped into 3 sets. Each set
containing 22 players were allowed to play football for at least 2hours with a 15 minutes break interval. They
were allowed to take only 250mls water during this exercising period. Blood samples were collected from all
the subjects prior to the exercise from anticubital veins with the subjects in sitting position. Post-Exercise
blood Samples were collected within 5 minutes after and 2hrs after the exercise. The blood samples were also
analyzed for serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine. Blood sample for calcium was collected after removing
the tourniquet for 2 minutes. The serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride and
calcium were estimated using ion selective electrodes while urea and creatinine were estimated using standard License: CC BY 4.0
colorimetric methods. Results: There was no significant difference in mean concentrations of serum
electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl_ and HCO3_) profile levels in pre exercising subjects when compared with the post
exercising period. (P> 0.05). However, the mean levels of Ca+ increased significantly in post exercise period
when compared with the pre exercising condition (P < 0.05). The findings of this work suggest that short Open Access article
duration of exercise does not alter significantly the serum electrolytes.

Keywords: Physical exercise, Serum Electrolytes, footballers.

How to cite this paper: Olisah, M. C., & Nicholate, D. C. (2021). Effect of Physical Exercise on Serum Electrolytes Urea and Creatinine in Undergraduate
Footballers in Anambra State, Nigeria. IPS Interdisciplinary Journal of Biological Sciences, 1(1), 8–10. https://doi.org/10.54117/iijbs.v1i1.2

Introduction (Henry et al., 2001). They play a role in conducting nervous impulses,
contracting muscles, keeping the body hydrated and regulating body’s pH
Exercise can be defined as physical activity that is planned, structured, and levels. Disturbances in electrolytes may have a harmful effect on health
repetitive for the purpose of conditioning the body. It is any bodily activity and can even be fatal in rare cases As a result, long periods of exercise or
that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. activity, particularly in the heat, can cause significant electrolyte loss.
(Kylasov and Gavrov, 2011). It consists of cardiovascular conditioning,
strength, resistance training, and flexibility. It is also essential for
However, certain populations, such as endurance athletes who are
improving overall health, maintaining fitness, and helping to prevent the
exercising for more than two hours or those who exercise in extreme heat,
development of obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. It
may want to consider drinking electrolyte-enriched sports drinks to replace
improves mental health, helps prevent depression and helps to promote or
their losses. Typically, the most important factor in regard to electrolyte
maintain positive self-esteem (Kawano et al., 2009; Malatesta et al., 2009).
loss during exercise is the amount of sweat lost. As individual sweats
Physical activity plays an active role in the prevention of non-
during exercise, not only do they lose fluid, but also lose many of the
communicable diseases, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus
electrolytes needed to keep the body hydrated and balanced. In the last
type II, dyslipidemia, obesity, breast and colon cancers in addition to the
decade, there has been increasing interest in the idea that individuals
prevention of dementia, depression, and premature death (Abby et al.,
engaged in exercises may have an increased need for several of the
2017). During physical exertion, the people experience reversible,
essential minerals. This idea has resulted in the widespread perception that
sometimes irreversible alterations in various homeostatic functions.
mineral supplements may be advantageous for this group of population.
The concept is based on two basic perceptions:
Electrolytes are the positively and negatively charge molecules called ions
that are found within the cells and extracellular fluid compartment of blood

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Available: https://doi.org/10.54117/iijbs.v1i1.2 Research article

(i) Individuals engaged in strenuous exercise have a higher requirement for stored at – 20 degree celsius until analysis few days later. The blood
some minerals compared to sedentary individuals due to increased rates of samples were analyzed for serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine.
urinary and sweat losses
(ii) Inadequate intake of some essential minerals may lead to the Methods for Analysis
development of some disease states.
Electrolyte determination using ion selective electrode
Although a significant number of athletes and professionals in the sports Electrolytes were determined using ion selective electrode by Bard and
medicine field believe in effects of mineral supplements, there are Faulkner (2000).
remarkably few data supporting a positive effect of dietary mineral
supplementation on athletic performance. However, this research is Estimation of Serum Sodium estimation was done using sodium reagent
targeted to determine if strenuous exercise does influence loss of several set by Teco Diagnostics.
minerals and to determine if the loss of those minerals is significant enough
to cause deleterious effect. Estimation of Serum Potassium: Potassium estimation was done using
Turbidimetric test-TPB method of the test kit by Quimica Clinical
Materials and Methods Aplicada S.A.
Subjects Determination of Serum Bicarbonate by modified method of Von-Slyke
This study was conducted at the training field of Chukwuemeka Determination of Urea Level (Roche Diagnostics, USA).
Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli. This was done during the weekend Blood urea was determined by the method described by Kassirer, (1971).
physical exercise activities done by the students of the university. Sixty Determination of Creatinine Level (Roche Diagnostics, USA).
(60) subjects were recruited, randomly from footballers. Serum creatinine was estimated by Jaffe's method as described by Laron,
(1972).
Sample Size
Sample size calculation was done using 95% confidence interval, 0.05 Statistical Analysis
precision and prevalence rate. There seem to be no data available as regards Data was statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social
the proportion of Anambra State residents that participate in various forms Sciences (SPSS) for windows version 20.0 software. All data were
of physical exercise, but, high physical activity levels assessed in Ibadan, expressed as Mean ± Standard Deviation (SD). Statistical analysis of
Western Nigeria, reported 3.2% (Odunaiya et al., 2010). before exercise, two weeks after exercise and four weeks after exercise data
The formula for sample size when population is more than 1000 is: n = was performed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) while multiple
Z2PQ/d2 comparisons were done using Post Hoc test. Significance was fixed at P <
n = Z2PQ/d2 0.05.
Where:
n = minimum sample size, Results and Discussion
Z = standard normal deviation at 95% confidence interval which
is 1.96, In this study (Table 1), there was no significant difference in mean
d = degree of precision (taken as 0.05), concentrations of serum electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl- and HCO3-) profile
P = proportion of the target population (estimated at 3.2% which levels in exercising subjects when compared with the post exercising
is 3.2/100 = 0.032), group. (P>0.05). However, the mean levels of Ca+ increased significantly
Q = alternate proportion (1-P) which is 1-0.032= 0.968 in exposed group when compared with the control group (P < 0.05).
n = (1.96)2 (0.032)(0.968) = 48 Prolonged exercise leads to a progressive water and electrolyte loss from
(0.05)2 the body as sweat is secreted to promote heat loss.

Inclusion Criteria From our findings, exercising footballers have a reduction in serum sodium
(i) Subjects were made up of only males of between 18-30 years. concentration 2hs after exercising compared with pre exercise condition.
(ii) Subjects must not have participated in any strenuous exercise for at The serum sodium however, normalized 2 hours after the exercise. The
least one month. reduction in serum sodium level during exercise can be attributed to the
(iii) Subjects must not have any history of medical illness. loss of sodium in sweat during exercise. This is in accordance with the
(iv) Subjects must not be recently on medicinal drug use. finding of Sanders et al. (2001), and Ugwuja et al (2014). Though, there is
reduction in serum sodium, the reduction was not sufficient to cause
Recruitment of subjects: After verbal consent, detailed personal, and hyponatreamia. Speedy et al. (2001) and Noakes (2002), have observed
medical questionnaire was completed by the foothballers through personal cases of hyponatraemia during endurance exercise in heat. Also, Ri (2006)
interview. highlighted the importance of sodium in fluid homeostasis and advised that
persons engaging in long distance exercise should drink as much fluid as
Ethical Approval: Ethical approval was gotten from the research Ethics possible to prevent dehydration and hyponatraemia. Also observed in our
committee of faculty of Basic Medical Sciences. study is a significant reduction in serum chloride. This is however not
surprising as both sodium and chloride is the main constituent of sweat in
Pre exercise, exercise and post exercise period form of salt. Potassium is mostly an intracellular mineral which, interacts
Six football teams comprising of 11 players each was group into 3 sets. with sodium via action potentials in conduction of nerve impulses. Our
Each set containing 22 players were allowed to play for at least 2hours with findings showed a reduction in serum potassium and this could be due to
a 15 minutes break interval. They were allowed to take only 250mls water the fact that the exercise duration with sweating and lasted for forty five
during this exercising period. minutes. It is also expected that if the exercise is prolonged without taking
any fluid with increased breakdown of glycogen to supply energy for the
Pre-Exercise Blood Samples: body the muscle cells will be depleted of potassium resulting in increase in
Blood samples were collected from all the subjects prior to the exercise serum potassium concentration.
from anticubital veins with the subjects in sitting position. Post-Exercise
blood Samples were collected within 5 minutes after and 2hrs after the
Similarly serum bicarbonate concentration changes in our research showed
exercise. The blood samples were also analyzed for serum electrolytes,
a little decrease. This is not far from the fact that during the exercise period,
urea and creatinine. Blood sample for calcium was collected after removing
there may be exercise induced tachycardia. This is also in consonance with
the tourniquet for 2 minutes. All blood samples were stored in a sealed
Rojas et al. (2006). Serum potassium is not left out in the alteration in
containers tubes and were later centrifuged at 4000 revolution per minute
serum electrolyte changes associated with exercise.
(RPM) for 10 minutes and the serum of each sample was extracted into
fresh plain bottle for analysis, while those not immediately analyzed were

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Table 1: Mean serum levels of serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine

Groups Na (mmol/L) K+(mmol/L) Cl-(mmol/L) HCO3- (mmol/L) Urea (mmol/L Creati (μmol/L) Ca2+(mmol/L)

Pre exercise 144.21 ± 2.88 3.27 ± 0.30 102.37 ± 2.58 23.28 ± 1.45 3.03 ± 0.69 74.50 ± 10.09 3.8± 0.41
(A)

5 mins after 140.84 ± 1.53 3.15 ± 0.431 100.1±21.87 22.22 ± 1.80 4.10 ± 0.74 75.15 ± 7.20 4.5. ± 0.52
exercise (B)

2hrs after 142.89 ± 2.02 3.45 ± 0.23 101.1±3.67 21.72 ± 1.60 4.53 ± 0.84 78.12 ± 9.20 3.9 ± 0.31
exercise (C)

P value 1.01 0.930 0.74 0.921 0.16 0.13 0.01

POST Hoc
A/B 1.00 0.78 1.00 0.67 0.83 0.73 0.04
A/C 0.98 0.97 0.94 0.83 0.83 0.96 0.01
B/C 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.73 0.34 0.82 0.09

* Significant at p< 0.05

Conclusion
Alteration in serum electrolyte is always a serious problem when their concentration is either too high or low and can cause sudden death. It is therefore
very important that those embarking in serious physical exercise especially prolonged one should take as much fluid as possible especially water and
electrolyte alteration.
Odunaiya N.E, Ayodele, O.A, Oluwafemi, O. (2010). Physical Activity
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