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Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Testosterone Levels of Athletes and Sedentary Subjects at Rest and after Exhaustion

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Abstract

This study was performed to assess how 4 weeks of magnesium supplementation and exercise affect the free and total plasma testosterone levels of sportsmen practicing tae kwon do and sedentary controls at rest and after exhaustion. The testosterone levels were determined at four different periods: resting before supplementation, exhaustion before supplementation, resting after supplementation, and exhaustion after supplementation in three study groups, which are as follows: Group 1—sedentary controls supplemented with 10 mg magnesium per kilogram body weight. Group 2—tae kwon do athletes practicing 90–120 min/day supplemented with 10 mg magnesium per kilogram body weight. Group 3—tae kwon do athletes practicing 90–120 min/day receiving no magnesium supplements. The free plasma testosterone levels increased at exhaustion before and after supplementation compared to resting levels. Exercise also increased testosterone levels relative to sedentary subjects. Similar increases were observed for total testosterone. Our results show that supplementation with magnesium increases free and total testosterone values in sedentary and in athletes. The increases are higher in those who exercise than in sedentary individuals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Karaman High Medicine of Physical Education and Sports, Selcuk University, Karaman, Turkey

    Vedat Cinar

  2. High School of Physical Education and Sports, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey

    Yahya Polat

  3. Department of Physiology, Selcuklu Medical School, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Abdulkerim Kasim Baltaci

  4. Department of Physiology, Meram Medical School, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Rasim Mogulkoc

Authors
  1. Vedat Cinar
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  2. Yahya Polat
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  3. Abdulkerim Kasim Baltaci
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  4. Rasim Mogulkoc
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Correspondence to Vedat Cinar.

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Cinar, V., Polat, Y., Baltaci, A.K. et al. Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Testosterone Levels of Athletes and Sedentary Subjects at Rest and after Exhaustion. Biol Trace Elem Res 140, 18–23 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8676-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8676-3

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