title: Total radical trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP) and exercise.
abstract: The relationship between physical activity, physical fitness and total radical trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP) was examined in the Northern Ireland Health and Activity Survey. This was a cross-sectional population study (n = 1600) using a two-stage probability sample of the population. TRAP was calculated using the sum of the individual serum antioxidant concentrations (urate, protein thiols, ascorbate, alpha tocopherol and bilirubin) multiplied by their respective stoichiometric values. Physical fitness was determined by estimation of VO2max by extrapolation from submaximal oxygen uptake, and physical activity was recorded by computer-assisted interview. Mean serum TRAP concentrations were significantly higher in males (653 +/- 8.2 mumol/l, mean +/- SEM) compared to females (564 +/- 8.0 mumol/l) (p < 0.0001). Both male and female smokers had significantly lower TRAP values than non-smokers (males p < 0.0001, females p = 0.02). In females, there was a positive relationship of TRAP with age (p < 0.001) and body mass index (p < 0.001) but a negative relationship with physical fitness (p < 0.05). The known beneficial effects of exercise and activity do not appear to be directly mediated through increased antioxidant status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, UK.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Duly
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacAuley
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: McCrum
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mulholland
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stott
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Boreham
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Trinick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals