Magnesium status and the physical performance of volleyball players: effects of magnesium supplementation.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether magnesium supplementation improves physical performance in professional volleyball players, particularly in anaerobic metabolism and plyometric performance.
Results Summary
Magnesium supplementation significantly reduced lactate production and improved countermovement jump performance (by up to 3 cm) in the experimental group, though plasma magnesium levels decreased. No significant changes were observed in the control group.
Population
Twenty-five professional male volleyball players.
Effective Dosage
350 mg Mg per day for the experimental group, 500 mg maltodextrin per day for the control group.
Duration
4 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
magnesium supplementation | decrease | plasma magnesium | professional male volleyball players | - | decreased significantly | #1 |
magnesium supplementation | decrease | lactate production | professional male volleyball players | - | significant decreases | #2 |
magnesium supplementation | increase | countermovement jump | professional male volleyball players | up to 3 cm | significant increases | #3 |
magnesium supplementation | increase | countermovement jump with arm swing | professional male volleyball players | up to 3 cm | significant increases | #4 |
magnesium supplementation | increase | alactic anaerobic metabolism | professional male volleyball players | - | improved | #5 |
magnesium supplementation | no change | erythrocyte magnesium | professional male volleyball players | - | remained within normal ranges | #6 |
magnesium supplementation | no change | urinary magnesium | professional male volleyball players | - | remained within normal ranges | #7 |
magnesium supplementation | no change | creatine kinase activity | professional male volleyball players | - | remained within normal ranges | #8 |
magnesium supplementation | no change | VO2 max | professional male volleyball players | - | remained within normal ranges | #9 |
The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that magnesium supplementation influences the physical performance of volleyball players, as the efficacy of this approach remains questionable. Twenty-five professional male volleyball players were assigned randomly to experimental (350 mg Mg · d(-1), 4 weeks) and control groups (500 mg maltodextrin · d(-1), 4 weeks) maintaining inter-group homogeneity of urinary magnesium. Erythrocyte, plasma and urinary magnesium levels, plasma creatine kinase activity, lactate production, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and plyometric (squat jump, countermovement jump, countermovement jump with arm swing) and isokinetic (peak torque, potency and total work) performances were evaluated before (T0) and after (T1) supplementation. Levels of erythrocyte and urinary magnesium and creatine kinase activity and VO2 max remained within normal ranges in both groups. Plasma magnesium decreased significantly only within the experimental group. Significant decreases in lactate production and significant increases (of up to 3 cm) in countermovement jump and countermovement jump with arm swing values were detected in the experimental group following magnesium supplementation, but not in the control group at T1. It is concluded that magnesium supplementation improved alactic anaerobic metabolism, even though the players were not magnesium-deficient.