title: Preseason preparation training and endothelial function in elite professional soccer players.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether a high volume of soccer-specific training can lead to endothelial activation and/or dysfunction in professional soccer players due to exercise-induced oxidative stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three (15 nonsmokers and eight smokers) healthy, elite male professional soccer players (mean age: 25.2±4.3 years, BMI: 23.1±1.3 kg/m(2), fat: 7.8%±2.6%) were selected for this study. All participants had a full clinical and laboratory evaluation. von Willebrand factor antigen (vWf Ag) plasma levels were measured on two different occasions: 1 day before the beginning of the preseason preparation period and after 7 weeks of strenuous exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean vWf Ag plasma levels were significantly decreased from 95.1%±26% to 88.3%±27.2% at the end of the experimental period (P=0.018), suggesting a potential beneficial effect on the endothelium of these athletes. Further analysis showed that age greater than 29 years with an age range from 29 to 34 years can not impair this effect (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strenuous exercise did not lead to endothelium activation or dysfunction in well-trained elite soccer players. On the contrary, it seemed to produce a beneficial effect on the endothelium of these players.
authors.affiliation: Hematology Laboratory, Iraklion University Hospital, Iraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Androulakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry-Biochemistry.
authors.forename: Nikolaos E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Koundourakis
authors.affiliation: Hematology Laboratory, Iraklion University Hospital, Iraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nioti
authors.affiliation: Hematology Laboratory, Iraklion University Hospital, Iraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spatharaki
authors.affiliation: Hematology Laboratory, Iraklion University Hospital, Iraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hatzisymeon
authors.affiliation: Hematology Laboratory, Iraklion University Hospital, Iraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miminas
authors.affiliation: Hematology Laboratory, Iraklion University Hospital, Iraklion, Greece ; Department of Hematology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Iraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Alexandrakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012916:Soccer; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014841:von Willebrand Factor
keywords: endothelium; smoking; strenuous exercise