Effect of Physical Exercise on Serum Electrolytes, Urea and Creatinine in Undergraduate Footballers in Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: Prolonged exercise leads to progressive water and electrolyte loss from the body as sweat is secreted to promote heat loss. The rate of sweating depends on many factors and is increased in proportion to the work rate and the environmental temperature and humidity. Prolong exercise could lead to an alteration in electrolyte concentrations and this could lead to deleterious effects in the body. Aim: To determine the 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 were grouped into 3 sets. Each set containing 22 players was 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 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 Ca2+ increased significantly in post-exercise period when compared with the pre-exercising condition (P < 0.05). The findings of this work suggest that short duration of exercise does not alter significantly the serum electrolytes.