Associate Professor, PhD  D.D. Dalsky¹
Associate Professor, PhD S.A. Kraev²
E.V. Bolshova
¹ National State University of Physical Culture, Sport and Health n.a. P.F. Lesgaft, St. Petersburg
²General A.V. Khrulev Military Academy for Logistics and Procurement, Saint Petersburg

Keywords: mineral water, redox index, functionality, physical working capacity, powerlifting, psycho-physiological tests, water minerals, aerobic capacity, cycle ergometer test, physical stress test.

Background. Mineral water with its trace elements is increasingly popular for its facilitating effects on physical and mental progress in sports [1]. In view of the recent doping scandals, mineral water may be ranked high on the list of the potential “safe doping” alternatives due its composition being fairly close to the human biochemistry. It was found by the latest studies that functionality of muscle and brain cells may be improved by the dietary water balancing methods with a special attention to the water quality including its redox index. When daily water is well balanced, the trace water minerals are known to be most effectively consumed. Many study reports have demonstrated that growths in metabolic activity are normally associated with increased consumption of trace elements critical for glycolytic regulation and oxygen transmission by erythrocytes. Therefore, high-alkaline natural water with the negative redox index and balanced trace elements may help cope with deficiencies of the key proteins due to many positive effects including an accelerated regeneration under physical stress – that heavily contributes to the competitive performance and progress [1, 3].

Objective of the study was to analyze benefits of Prolom mineral water for physical performance and functionality in elite powerlifting sport.

Methods and structure of the study. Prolom mineral water is natural mineral dietary water of sodium bicarbonate category with traces of silicon, alkalines and oligominerals. Its key characteristics are: low mineralization of 0.2 g/ l, high alkalinity of pH 9.2, traces of silicon and natural bicarbonates. It is rapidly excreted acting as a diuretic, increases urinal output and reduces acidity of urine and gastric juice, increases the secretory function of the liver, improves bile secretion and gallbladder function; and increases the blood alkalinity to maintain pH at optimal levels for respiration and cellular nutrition. Prolom mineral water is recommended for treatment of metabolic disorders and for oxidative stress control, and is known to facilitate the post-training rehab processes [4].

We sampled for laboratory tests 20 elite powerlifters qualified CMS and MS and split up the sample into Experimental and Reference Groups (EG, RG) of 10 people each. The EG took Prolom mineral water prior to and after trainings and in the post-training recovery periods for six months, whilst the RG took standard drinking water. The group progress was tested by the following psycho-physiological tests: complex sensorimotor response; three colors (red, yellow, green) critical distinguishing frequency; hydrodynamometric (static endurance); and physical working capacity tests; plus vegetative functionality tests including the heart rate (HR) test; and water minerals versus physical working capacity tests including the aerobic capacity tests by PWC170 method adapted by V.L. Karpman and Z.B. Belotserkovsky.

Results and discussion. The pre-experimental physical working capacity tests using the PWC170 method rated the physical working capacity in RG and EG moderate at 1076 ± 53 kgm/ min and 1152 ± 88 kgm/ min, respectively. The post-experimental tests found the PWC170 rates in the RG (n-8) averaging at 980 ± 67 kgm/ min – versus 1201 ± 87 kgm/ min in the EG (n=7). The meaningful difference in the group progresses may be due, as we believe, to the positive influences of mineral water on the aerobic capacity (p <0.05) for the related samples. The EG progress may be interpreted as facilitated by the functionality economizing effects– as demonstrated, among other things, by the HR improvements in the EG only. On the whole, the aerobic capacity in the EG (PWC170 test) was tested to grow for the experimental period by 8-12% due to the HR reduction and 25-35% progress in the cardiovascular system performance under physical stress, plus reductions in the post-training rehab times (from 5 to 3 min).

Given of Figures 1-3 hereunder are the cycle ergometer test data of the sample –indicative of the Prolom mineral water benefits for aerobic capacity under physical stress. Note that the central regulatory mechanisms are particularly sensitive to water minerals. The mineral water consumption by the EG was tested to improve the heart performance as verified by the systolic pressure growth, with special benefits for vascular tone i.e. positive effects on the regulatory centers including the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions: see Figures 1, 2. The test data were processed by STATGRAPHICS software: see the confidence intervals and meanings of the differences on the Figures. The RG was tested with virtually no progress in the tests, save for some insignificant improvement in the physical stress tolerance.

Figure 1. Pre- versus post-experimental systolic pressure test data (mmHg) of the EG and RG after moderate (1) and high (2) physical stress

Figure 2. Pre- versus post-experimental diastolic pressure test data (mmHg) of the EG and RG after moderate (1) and high (2) physical stress

Figure 3. Pre- versus post-experimental pulse pressure test data (beats/ min) of the EG and RG after moderate (1) and high (2) physical stress

Note that pre-experimental tests found no significant intergroup physical working capacity differences.

Conclusion. The Prolom mineral water consumption with the dietary water balancing method was tested beneficial and harmless and, therefore, may be recommended for application for the sports elite’s physical performance and functionality improvement purposes.

References

1. Klimova E.V. Increased loss of macro- and microelements when exercising and expediency of their compensation with biologically active additives. Pishchevaya i pererabatyivayushchaya promyshlennost. 2010. No. 1. P. 197.
2. Kulikov A.G. Drinking mineral water: modern view of problem. Proceedings of scientific conference. Kashin Sanatorium. Kashin.2009. pp. 20-23.
3. Medvedev D.V., Suslina I.V. Physiological factors determining performance at different stages of adaptation to muscular activity Fundamentalnye issledovaniya. 2012. No. 9 (4). pp. 820-822.
4. Drug description in Vidal handbook
5. https://www.vidal.ru/drugs/prolomvoda/

Corresponding author: ddfond@mail.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to analyze benefits of Prolom mineral water for physical performance and functionality in elite powerlifting sport.

Methods and structure of the study. We sampled for laboratory tests 20 elite powerlifters qualified CMS and MS and split up the sample into Experimental and Reference Groups (EG, RG) of 10 people each. The EG took Prolom mineral water prior to and after trainings and in the post-training rehab periods for six months, whilst the RG took standard drinking water. The group progresses were tested by the following psycho-physiological tests: complex sensorimotor response; three colors (red, yellow, green) critical distinguishing frequency; hydrodynamometric (static endurance); and physical working capacity tests; plus vegetative functionality tests including the heart rate test; and water minerals versus physical working capacity tests including the aerobic capacity tests by PWC170 method adapted by V.L. Karpman and Z.B. Belotserkovsky.

Results and conclusion. The study data and analyses demonstrated benefits of the Prolom mineral water consumptions and water balancing method as verified by improvements in the aerobic capacity and blood pressure under varied physical stresses. The water minerals were found to improve functionality of the central regulation mechanisms and step up the heart performance. Note that pre-experimental tests found no meaningful intergroup physical working capacity differences. The Prolom mineral water consumption with dietary water balancing method was tested beneficial and harmless and, therefore, may be recommended for application for the sports elite’s physical performance and functionality improvement purposes.