title: Effect of astaxanthin supplementation on muscle damage and oxidative stress markers in elite young soccer players.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of Astaxanthin (Asx) supplementation on muscle enzymes as indirect markers of muscle damage, oxidative stress markers and antioxidant response in elite young soccer players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two male elite soccer players were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to Asx and placebo (P) group. After the 90 days of supplementation, the athletes performed a 2 hour acute exercise bout. Blood samples were obtained before and after 90 days of supplementation and after the exercise at the end of observational period for analysis of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), superoxide anion (O2•¯), total antioxidative status (TAS), sulphydril groups (SH), superoxide-dismutase (SOD), serum creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).
  
  
  RESULTS
  TBARS and AOPP levels did not change throughout the study. Regular training significantly increased O2•¯ levels (main training effect, P<0.01). O2•¯ concentrations increased after the soccer exercise (main exercise effect, P<0.01), but these changes reached statistical significance only in the P group (exercise x supplementation effect, P<0.05). TAS levels decreased significantly post- exercise only in P group (P<0.01). Both Asx and P groups experienced increase in total SH groups content (by 21% and 9%, respectively) and supplementation effect was marginally significant (P=0.08). Basal SOD activity significantly decreased both in P and in Asx group by the end of the study (main training effect, P<0.01). All participants showed a significant decrease in basal CK and AST activities after 90 days (main training effect, P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). CK and AST activities in serum significantly increased as result of soccer exercise (main exercise effect, P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively). Postexercise CK and AST levels were significantly lower in Asx group compared to P group (P<0.05)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study suggest that soccer training and soccer exercise are associated with excessive production of free radicals and oxidative stress, which might diminish antioxidant system efficiency. Supplementation with Asx could prevent exercise induced free radical production and depletion of non-enzymatic antioxidant defense in young soccer players.
authors: Institute for Bromatology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Djordjevic
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Baralic
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Kotur-Stevuljevic
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Stefanovic
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ivanisevic
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Radivojevic
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Andjelkovic
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Dikic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000097:blood*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D024341:Xanthophylls; C005948:astaxanthine