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alpha-Tocopherol supplementation restores the reduction of erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity
Stylianos Tsakiris1, George J Reclos, Theodore Parthimos
1Department of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, University of Athens, P.O. Box 65257, GR-15401 Athens, Greece. stsakir@cc.uoa.gr
Background:
Erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity is closely related to free radical production. alpha-Tocopherol (alpha-T) is implicated with the reduction of lipid peroxidation.
Aim:
To investigate the effect of training and alpha-T supplementation on the erythrocyte G6PD activity.
Methods:
Blood was obtained from 10 basketball players pre-game (group A), post-game (group B) and after 30 days on alpha-T (dl-alpha-tocopheryl-acetate, 200mg 24h(-1) orally) supplementation pre- (group C) and post-training (group D). alpha-T and catecholamines were evaluated with HPLC methods and creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, total antioxidant status (TAS) and G6PD activity with commercial kits.
Results:
TAS was increased in the groups with alpha-T addition (groups C and D). Post-exercise, TAS and G6PD activity were remarkably higher (2.10+/-0.13mmoll(-1), 7.92+/-1.5Ug(-1)Hb, respectively) in group D than those in group B (0.92+/-0.10mmoll(-1), 4.8+/-1.4Ug(-1)Hb, p<0.01, respectively). G6PD activity positively correlated with TAS (r=0.64, p<0.001) in all the studied groups.
Conclusions:
Supplementation with alpha-T may protect G6PD activity from reduction induced by forced training.
