title: Metabolic impact of a soccer match on female players.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the metabolic effect of a female soccer match in elite and sub-elite teams. Blood samples were taken (24 h before, immediately after and 18 h after official soccer matches) to determine haematological, electrolytic and hormonal variables, as well as the levels of cell damage and oxidative stress in 14 elite and 14 sub-elite players. Our results show increases in white blood cell count (P < 0.001) and the percentage of neutrophils (P < 0.001), and decreases in the percentage of lymphocytes (P < 0.05), eosinophils (P < 0.001), monocytes (P < 0.001) and basophils (P < 0.05) immediately post-match. Increases were also found in lactate dehydrogenase activity (P < 0.001), uric acid (P < 0.001), albumin (P < 0.001), total antioxidant status (P < 0.001) and free testosterone levels (P < 0.01). Creatine kinase activity significantly increased 18 h post-match (P < 0.01) and the concentrations of several ions, glucose and proteins were found to be altered immediately post-match. Overall, our results show that playing a soccer match exerts specific metabolic effects on female players, resulting in muscle damage, oxidative stress and biochemical and hormonal variations. On the basis of some interesting correlations, we also suggest that exercise-induced cell breakdown may enhance antioxidant capacity of the soccer players.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain. leyre.gravina@ehu.es
authors.forename: Leyre
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gravina
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lekue
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Irazusta
authors.forename: Susana Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014527:Uric Acid; D013739:Testosterone; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D003402:Creatine Kinase