SERUM ZINC IN HIGHLY TRAINED ADOLESCENT GYMNASTS

Serum zinc was measured in 20 adolescent gymnasts (9 boys, 11 girls, a ge 12-15 yr) explored for detecting possible adverse effects of intens e training on pubertal maturation and growth. They had low serum zinc (0.599 +/- 0.026 mg/L) when compared to matched control sedentary chil dren (n = 118 mean 0.81 +/- 0.014 p < 0.001). Girls had lower zinc tha n boys (0.557 +/- 0.023 vs 0.651 +/- 0.044 p < 0.001). Zinc was correl ated to isometric adductor strength (r = 0.468 p < 0.05). Children wit h serum zinc <0.6 mg/L had lower insulin-like growth factor binding pr otein 3 than others (2.326 +/- 0.264 vs 2.699 +/- 0.12 p < 0.01). Thus , zinc is lowered in trained adolescent gymnasts and even lower in fem ales. This reduction could play some role in abnormalities of puberty, growth, or muscular performance.