Does underwater rugby stimulate the over-production of reactive oxygen species?
Antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and antioxidant sex hormone oestradiol in serum and malondialdehyde (MDA) production as a marker of lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes were investigated in male and female underwater rugby (UWR) players. Results showed that except for GSH-Px activity in female players, all antioxidant enzymes increased significantly (p < 0.05) after an UWR game. It was interesting to note that while the concentration of oestradiol in female players did not change, it increased significantly (p < 0.05) in male players. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels in female players as well as oestradiol concentration did not change significantly (p > 0.05) whereas LPO levels in male players increased significantly (p < 0.05) compared to pre-exercise values. In conclusion, the results showed that underwater rugby can stimulate over-production of ROS and antioxidant systems and affect oestradiol levels in male players. Because of increased LPO levels observed in male players, complex antioxidant supplementation including co-factors of antioxidant enzymes such as Cu, Zn, Fe, Se and antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C and E may be recommended to players before the UWR game.
Cavas
Levent
L
Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry Division, University of Dokuz Eylül, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Izmir, Turkey. lcavas@deu.edu.tr
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D004958:Estradiol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase