JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCE & MEDICINE
http://www.jssm.org
 
Research article
 

RED BLOOD CELL AND WHOLE BLOOD GLUTATHIONE REDOX STATUS IN ENDURANCE-TRAINED MEN FOLLOWING A SKI MARATHON

Eve Unt1, Ceslava Kairane2, Ivi Vaher1 and Mihkel Zilmer2

1Institute of Exercise Biology and Physiotherapy, 2Department of Biochemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

Received   19 February 2008
Accepted   24 June 2008
Published   01 September 2008

© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2008) 7, 344 - 349
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ABSTRACT  
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in glutathione redox ratio (GSSG·GSH-1) in red blood cells (RBCs) and whole blood in well-trained men following a ski marathon. 16 male subjects (27.0 ± 4.7 yrs, 1.81 ± 0.06 m, 77.6 ± 9.6 kg, VO2max 66.2 ± 5.7 ml·kg-1·min-1) were examined before the competition (pre- COMP), after the competition (post-COMP) and during an 18-hour recovery period (RECOV). There was a slight decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) in blood and in RBCs in post-COMP. During RECOV, the GSH level in blood was reduced, the GSH level in RBCs was significantly elevated (a statistically significant difference as compared to the pre-COMP level). The post-COMP GSSG·GSH-1 in full blood did not increase significantly, but its increase was statistically significant during the 18-hour recovery period. During the post-COMP and RECOV, the GSSG·GSH-1 in RBCs slightly decreased in comparison with the pre-COMP. Vitamin C concentration in serum increased in post-COMP (49% vs. pre- COMP) and decreased to the baseline level during RECOV. In conclusion, our data show that acute exercise slightly increases the GSSG·GSH-1 in whole blood, while GSSG·GSH-1 in RBCs significantly decreases. Thus, exercise-related changes in the non-enzymatic components of the glutathione system (GSSG and GSH) in whole blood and RBCs are not identical.

Key words: Free radicals, antioxidants, glutathione, vitamin C, exercise.

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