The beneficial effects of physical exercise on antioxidant status in asthmatic children.
BACKGROUND
The pathogenesis of asthma involves both airway inflammation and an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance. It is demonstrated in asthmatic adults that exercise programmes improve lung function, a mechanism yet to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible beneficial effects of physical exercise on antioxidant status in asthmatic children which may lead to ameliorated lung function.


METHODS
The study enrolled thirteen control and thirty asthmatic children. The asthmatic group was subdivided into two: the first group receiving only pharmacological treatment (n=15) and the second receiving pharmacological treatment with exercise programme (n=15) for 8 weeks. Blood samples were drawn from the subjects before and after treatment periods. As oxidant stress markers blood levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total nitric oxide (NO), and as antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities were assessed.


RESULTS
Before any treatment was initiated, MDA and NO levels in the asthmatic group were significantly higher than the controls (3.40±0.96 nmol/ml vs 2.46±0.58 nmol/ml, and 12.53±2.10 vs 9.40±1.39 micromol/L, respectively). Both SOD (p=0.0001) and GSH-Px (p=0.023) activities were significantly lower in the asthmatic group. Pharmacological treatment and exercise programme together significantly improved lung performance and decreased the levels of oxidant stress markers, in concordance with a significantly increase in antioxidant enzyme activity measures when compared to the pharmacological treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Structured exercise programme in asthmatic children resulted in better lung function, which may be attributed to its effect on antioxidant status.
Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Manisa, Turkey.
Ece
E
Onur
Ceyda
C
Kabaroğlu
Ozlem
O
Günay
Ahmet
A
Var
Ozge
O
Yilmaz
Pınar
P
Dündar
Canan
C
Tikiz
Yeşim
Y
Güvenç
Hasan
H
Yüksel
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000276:immunology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase