Acute Effects of Physical Exercise on Biomarkers of the Trace Elements Selenium, Zinc, Copper, and Iron

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction and Significance of Trace Elements
  2. Study Design
  3. Results
  4. Integration: Trace Elements and Post-Exercise Immune Regulation
  5. Practical Implications
  6. References
  7. One-Minute-Paper Topics

1 Introduction and Significance of Trace Elements

Essential trace elements play a key role in modulating the immune response, redox balance, and muscle function (Simon et al. 2026):

Zinc: Regulates more than 300 enzymes and 1000 transcription factors. Influences both innate and adaptive immune systems. Zinc deficiency leads to reduced chemotaxis, phagocytosis, decreased B cell numbers, and impaired T cell development.

Selenium: Mediates its functions as a component of selenoproteins (glutathione peroxidases, thioredoxin reductases). Supports proliferation and activity of T cells, B cells, and NK cells.

Copper: Essential cofactor of numerous enzymes. Influences T cell proliferation as well as the number and function of neutrophils and macrophages. As a cofactor of SOD1, it is central to antioxidant defense.

Iron: Central role in oxygen transport (hemoglobin, myoglobin), energy metabolism, and DNA synthesis. Critical for the proliferation and activation of immune cells.

2 Study Design

20 healthy subjects (10 women, 10 men, aged 21—28 years) performed a standardized 1-minute sit-to-stand test (STST) (averaging 60 repetitions). Capillary blood samples were collected 10 min before, immediately after, and 30 and 60 min after exercise. Trace element concentrations, free zinc (fZn), selenoprotein P (SELENOP), and cellular inflammation markers (SII, SIRI, NLR) were analyzed. Serum parameters were adjusted for hemoconcentration (Simon et al. 2026).

3 Results

Hematological changes: Heart rate increased significantly immediately after the STST (67 to 138 bpm, p < 0.001). Hemoglobin and hematocrit rose significantly, and an average decrease in blood volume of 6% and plasma volume of 10% was observed.

Copper and selenium: Concentrations decreased significantly immediately after the STST and subsequently returned to baseline values. SELENOP levels showed a similar pattern.

Zinc: No changes in total zinc concentrations. Free zinc (fZn) increased significantly immediately after the STST and then declined. Possibly due to exercise-induced release from proteins and transient pH decrease.

Iron: Levels were elevated immediately after the STST and increased significantly at 60 min. Possible causes: exercise-induced hemolysis, release from ferritin stores, and acute phase response.

Cellular inflammation markers: NLR and SII decreased significantly immediately post-exercise and then rose above pre-exercise values. SIRI increased continuously and reached significantly higher values at 60 min — consistent with the known biphasic immune cell response (Simon et al. 2026).

→ Interactive Dashboard - Exercise Effects on Blood & Serum Parameters

4 Integration: Trace Elements and Post-Exercise Immune Regulation

The observed changes are potentially related to the known exercise-induced immune alterations. The initial decrease in copper and selenium may be attributable to their consumption by antioxidant enzymes and redistribution to metabolically active tissues. The increase in iron and free zinc reflects the acute phase response and metabolic adaptations (Simon et al. 2026).

5 Practical Implications

Acute changes in trace element concentrations must be considered when interpreting laboratory values in the sports medicine context. Blood sampling should ideally not be performed immediately after exercise. A wholesome diet with adequate energy intake remains the primary recommendation (Simon et al. 2026; Puta et al. 2026).

References

  • Puta C, Haunhorst S, Gabriel HHW (2026) Sport und Immunsystem. In: Wonisch M et al. (eds) Kompendium der Sportmedizin. Springer.
  • Simon R et al. (2026) Acute effects of physical exercise on biomarkers of the trace elements selenium, zinc, copper, and iron. J Trace Elem Med Biol 94:127828.

One-Minute-Paper Topics

A One-Minute-Paper (OMP) is a short, focused prompt that students answer in ~60 seconds at the end of a session to consolidate learning, surface misconceptions, and provide formative feedback. When answering, be concise, specific, and use terminology from today’s session.

  1. Why are selenium, zinc, copper, and iron grouped together in exercise immunology?
  2. State one immunological function of selenium.
  3. State one immunological function of zinc.
  4. State one immunological function of copper.
  5. State one immunological function of iron.
  6. Describe the sit-to-stand test and explain why it is a useful standardised challenge.
  7. How do haemodynamic shifts during exercise affect plasma trace element concentrations?
  8. Why must trace element results always be corrected for plasma volume changes?
  9. Explain how oxidative stress modulates copper and selenium biomarkers acutely.
  10. What is the role of ceruloplasmin in copper biology, and how does it behave in inflammation?
  11. How does hepcidin regulate iron availability during inflammation?
  12. Why can serum iron drop within hours of strenuous exercise?
  13. What is the difference between functional iron deficiency and absolute iron deficiency in athletes?
  14. How would you interpret a low zinc value in a sample drawn 30 minutes after intense exercise?
  15. Which preanalytical errors most commonly distort trace element measurements?
  16. What was the most surprising finding from today’s data?
  17. Which concept from today’s lecture do you find still confusing?
  18. How would you design a study to disentangle haemodynamic vs. inflammatory effects on trace elements?
  19. Name one practical implication of today’s lecture for sports medicine laboratories.
  20. What follow-up question about trace elements and exercise would you like to explore?