ACTH, Cortisol and IL-6 Levels in Athletes following Magnesium Supplementation

Gordana Dmitrašinović, Vesna Pešić, Dušanka Stanić, Bosiljka Plećaš-Solarović, Marijana Dajak, Svetlana Ignjatović, Gordana Dmitrašinović, Vesna Pešić, Dušanka Stanić, Bosiljka Plećaš-Solarović, Marijana Dajak, Svetlana Ignjatović

Abstract

Background: Physical exercise activates the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and induces the body's inflammatory response. Due to contemporary dietary habits and increased energy expenditure, athletes are susceptible to depletion of magnesium ions. The aim of our study was to investigate, through assessment of plasma ACTH, serum IL-6, and salivary/serum cortisol levels, if chronic magnesium supplementation might reduce damaging stress effects in amateur rugby players.

Methods: Rugby players (N=23) were randomly assigned to intervention and control group. Basal samples were collected before intervention group started a 4-week-long supplementation with magnesium (500 mg Mg/d). Blood and saliva sampling were done a day before the match (Day-1), on the morning of competition (Game), and during a six-day-long recovery period (Day1, Day3 and Day6). ACTH, serum/salivary cortisol, IL-6 and total/differential leukocytes counts were determined at each time point.

Results: There was a statistically significant increase in ACTH concentration in intervention group compared to control group, while reductions in cortisol concentrations between the two groups were the greatest at Day-1 (p < 0.01) and at the day of competition (Game) (p < 0.01). Our results revealed that magnesium completely abolished the increase in IL-6 level noted in control group on Day1 and Day3 vs. Day-1 (p < 0.01) and also diminished the rise in neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in intervention group vs. control group (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: These results suggest the possibly important influence magnesium supplementation might have on the change of parameters of HPA axis activity and reduction of immune response activation following strenuous physical exercise such as a rugby game.

Keywords: ACTH; IL-6; amateur rugby; magnesium supplementation; serum/saliva cortisol.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement The authors stated that they have no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Algorithm of the study. Before intervention, basal blood and saliva samples were collected on the day before the match. Players were randomly assigned to intervention (N=13) and control (N=10) group. Those allocated to the intervention group received during the next 28 days 500 mg Mg/day, divided in two equal doses, twice a day with a 12 h time interval between doses. On the first day after 4 weeks of supplementation (29th day of experiment) which was a day before match (Day-1), blood and saliva were collected. Biological fluid sampling was also done on the day of the competition (Game), on the next day (Day1), the third day (Day3) and the sixth day after the game (Day6).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mg influences ACTH pattern of change during post-competition period. Changes in ACTH level across sample points, control (black bars) and Mg supplemented group (grey bars), with basal values (white bar).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The change in serum and salivary cortisol levels. Changes in cortisol levels across sample points, the control group (black bars) and Mg supplemented group (grey bars), with basal values (white bar). (A) Changes in serum cortisol levels: **p

Figure 4

Mg supplementation significantly influences IL-6…

Figure 4

Mg supplementation significantly influences IL-6 serum level in rugby players. Changes in serum…

Figure 4
Mg supplementation significantly influences IL-6 serum level in rugby players. Changes in serum IL-6 level across sample points, control (black bars) and Mg supplemented group (grey bars), with basal values (white bar). **p + + p < 0.01 and + + + p < 0.001 in the control group for different time points; ### p < 0.01 values for level of IL-6 in Mg supplemented rugby players on the day before the match (Day-1) vs. basal IL-6 level.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mg supplementation significantly influences IL-6 serum level in rugby players. Changes in serum IL-6 level across sample points, control (black bars) and Mg supplemented group (grey bars), with basal values (white bar). **p + + p < 0.01 and + + + p < 0.001 in the control group for different time points; ### p < 0.01 values for level of IL-6 in Mg supplemented rugby players on the day before the match (Day-1) vs. basal IL-6 level.

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