Assessment of Electrolyte Profiles and Kidney Function in Footballers at Rivers State University.

Background: Exercise leads to progressive loss of water and electrolyte from the body as sweat is secreted to promote heat loss and cool the body. Prolonged exercise could lead to alteration in electrolyte concentrations and this could negatively affect physiological processes. This study was aimed at assessing urine specific gravity, renal function and electrolyte disturbances among football players training at the football field in Rivers State university. A total of one hundred (100) footballers training at different football pitch in Rivers State University were involved in the study after prior informed consent was gotten from them. Blood samples were collected from all the subjects prior to the exercise from antecubital veins while post-exercise blood samples were collected within 5 minutes after the exercise. The blood samples were processed and analyzed for serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine using standard spectrophotometric methods, while the anion gap was calculated from the value of serum electrolytes obtained. Urine samples were also collected pre- and post- exercise and analyzed for specific gravity using the combi-10 lateral dipstick. Data was statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Results show no significant difference in mean concentrations of serum electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl- and HCO3-), anion gap, urea and creatinine levels in pre exercising subject’s samples when compared with the post exercising samples (P> 0.05). However, the mean levels of the urine specific gravity increased significantly in post exercise period when compared with the pre exercising condition (P < 0.05). The findings of this work suggest that footballers have normal renal function, however they are dehydrated after one and half hour of soccer as seen in their elevated urine specific gravity. Players are therefore encouraged to increase fluid intake after soccer to maintain adequate hydration status necessary for optimal physiological processes.