Original articles  BIOCHEMISTRY 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2004 June;44(2):193-9

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Early alterations in serum creatine kinase and total cholesterol following high intensity eccentric muscle actions

Shahbazpour N. ^{1, 2}, Carroll T. J. ², Riek S. ², Carson R. G. ²

¹ College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences The University of Shaheed Bahonar, Kerman, Iran 2 Perception and Motor Systems Laboratory The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Aim. The purpose of this experiment was to assess the levels of muscle soreness, serum total cholesterol (TC) and creatine kinase (CK) in the first 48 hours following fatiguing eccentric exercise performed with the triceps brachii.
Methods. Eleven untrained male college students performed a total of 50 eccentric elbow extensions in 8 sets (6×7 and 2×4) with a load equal to 85% of their maximal concentric elbow extension strength. Isometric elbow extension strength, muscle soreness and circumference, and serum CK and TC concentrations were measured before, immediately after, and 2, 24 and 48 hours after the exercise.
Results. Statistically reliable changes in isometric strength, serum CK and TC, muscle soreness and upper arm circumference occurred within the first 48 hours following eccentric exercise. Serum TC concentrations exhibited a very rapid (within 2 hours) reduction from pre-exercise values after eccentric exercise to a relatively stable concentration of approximately 85% of baseline.
Conclusion. These results suggest that serum TC concentration may follow the time-course of reductions in force generating capacity more closely than other biochemical markers of muscle damage.