Acute antioxidant pre-treatment attenuates endothelial microparticle release after decompression

The hyperbaric and hyperoxic effects of a dive have been demonstrated to elicit changes in oxidative stress, endothelial function and microparticle (MP) release. Endothelial MP, which are small membrane vesicles shed from the endothelium, have been suggested as a valid in vivo marker of endothelial function. Furthermore, recent research has shown an increase in CD105 MP post-dive to be associated with a decline in endothelial function. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether antioxidant (AOX) pre-treatment can attenuate increased CD105 MP release post-dive.

Five healthy, male, pressure-naive subjects completed two simulated dives (control and intervention) breathing compressed air to a depth of 18 metres' sea water for 80 min. For the intervention dive, all subjects received a commercially available AOX pill containing vitamins C and E, selenium and beta-carotene 2 h pre-dive. CD105 MP, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and thiobarbituric reactive substances assay (TBARS) were determined pre-dive, at depth, immediately and 4 h post-dive.

In the control dive, there was a significant increase in CD105 MP immediately post-dive when compared with at depth (P < 0.001) and pre-dive (P = 0.039) values. Antioxidant pre-treatment significantly attenuated this release of CD105 MP post-decompression (P = 0.002). There were no significant changes in TBARS or TAC.

These results may provide evidence of the potential use of AOX pre-treatment as an effective endothelial pre-conditioner for divers.