[Total antioxidant status concentration in blood plasma of professional sportsmen after dosed physical exercise]

The mechanism of functioning of the well-balanced protection system against free radicals is based on the mutual and synergistic activity of its all elements. One of the first organism reactions to physical effort is an elevated oxygen requirement due to an increased rate of metabolism, particularly in the skeletal muscles involved in performing physical work. In case of insufficient antioxidative system of blood plasma, free radicals attack the erythrocytic membrane externally and internally, leading to formation of considerable amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of dosed submaximal and maximal physical exercise on the plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) concentration in professional sportsmen and in subjects of normal physical activity.

41 rugby players (junior and senior group) and 20 men of normal physical activity (control group) were the subject of the study. The plasma TAS concentration was determined: before an effort in the control group, and after 30-minute restitution period in sportsmen.

The concentration of TAS values in subjects of normal physical activity before exercises were on average 0.65 +/- 0.15 mmol/l. In the junior group after the dosed submaximal physical exercise, the mean TAS concentration was 0.69 +/- 0.29 mmol/l, but the dosed maximal exercise lead to an increase in TAS values - 0.73 +/- 0.34 mmol/l. The higher plasma TAS concentration after the dosed submaximal physical exercise was observed in the senior group as compared to the junior group, and was on average 0.93 +/- 0.22 mmol/l. However, after the maximal exercise, the TAS concentration decreased and its average value was 0.66 +/- 0.26 mmol/l.

The results of the study indicate that the intensity of performed exercises affects the plasma TAS concentration during a single physical activity. The plasma TAS concentration was higher in sportsmen regardless of the type of effort as compared to the control group. Supplementation of micromolecular antioxidants present in nutrients ingested by the sportsmen might have influenced the study outcomes.