Mineral status during a competition matches in top level junior male basketball players

Minerals are categorized as macrominerals or microminerals (trace minerals) based upon the extent of their occurrence in the body (Hunt and Groff, 1990). During exercise, the sweat can be lost water and electrolytes (Terrados and Maughan, 1995), moreover depending on the climatic conditions and the intensity of the match, sweat losses among individual players can range from less than 1 L (similar to 1 qt) to as much as 4 L (4.2 qt), and various studies have reported that on average, players replace anywhere from 0% to 87% of that sweat loss during the match (Burke, 1997; Maughan et al. 2004). Therefore the aim of this investigation was to examine the mineral status (CL+ (Chloride); NA+ (Sodium), K+ (Potassium)) during the official competition in international basketball players. The statistical analysis used to compare the results obtained during the three blood sample was a repeated-measures analysis of variance and the Pearson Coefficient Correlation (r) to study the relationship between the minerals and the playing time. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Our results demostrated a decreased significantly (p < 0.05), between (K+) PRE values and (K+) POST values during the matches. Even then potassium replacement alone should be considered post exercise in basketball.