Abstract des Autors

The aim of the present study was to assess the rate of fulfilment of the standardised level of the safe uptake of zinc and copper in the endurance-trained athletes as well as to estimate the mutual relations between zinc and copper in the daily rations fed to these athletes. Altogether, 392 athletes (140 women and 252 men) aged 16 to 24 years were included in the study. Nutritional patterns at home of the subjects were determined based on the descriptions of the type of food they had consumed during 24 hours preceding the onset of the study. Energy, zinc, and copper intakes with the daily rations were calculated from the nutrition tables. The results indicate that in the tested men zinc consumption only in single cases fell below 2/3 of the standardised level of the safe uptake. In women, however, percentages of those fed below this level equalled to 10 and 14% for the younger and older athletes, respectively. In contrast, copper consumption below 2/3 of the standardised level of the safe uptake occurred in 10 and 24% of the tested younger and older males, respectively, and in 42 and 75% of the tested younger and older females, respectively. Zn:Cu ratio in the tested diets exceeded the standardised value of 6.0 calculated from the nutrition tables indicating that the two elements were imbalanced against each other and that the diet contained excess zinc relative to copper. This imbalance may affect utilisation of the two elements from the diet. In view of the important role played by zinc and copper in metabolic processes, especially during exercising, it is possible that the levels of safe intake of these elements, as recommended by experts of the European Union, may be insufficient for feeding people subjected to excessive physical load. Verf.-Referat