ORIGINAL ARTICLE  EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2017 July-August;57(7-8):942-52

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.16.06409-4

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Effect of body composition, aerobic performance and physical activity on exercise-induced oxidative stress in healthy subjects

Magdalena WIĘCEK ¹✉, Marcin MACIEJCZYK ¹, Jadwiga SZYMURA ², Szczepan WIECHA ³, Malgorzata KANTOROWICZ ⁴, Zbigniew SZYGULA ⁵

¹ Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Physical Education, Krakow, Poland; ² Department of Clinical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Motor Rehabilitation, University of Physical Education, Krakow, Poland; ³ Faculty of Tourism and Health, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education, Biala Podlaska, Poland; ⁴ Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Physical Education in Krakow, Krakow, Poland; ⁵ Department of Sports Medicine and Human Nutrition, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Physical Education, Krakow, Poland

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress could be the result of an increase in ATP resynthesis during exercise. The aim of the study was to compare prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) disturbances induced by exercise at maximal intensity in young men with differing body compositions.
METHODS: Thirty-nine subjects were selected from 1549 volunteers aged 18-30, based on lean body mass (LBM) and body fat percentage (%BF), and then assigned into one of the following groups: control group (CON), including subjects with average LBM (59.0-64.3 kg) and average %BF (14.0-18.5%); high body fat (HBF) group, including subjects with high %BF (>21.5%) and average LBM; and high lean body mass (HLBM) group, including subjects with high LBM (>66.3 kg) and average %BF. Participants’ physical activity was determined. A running test with a gradually increased load was used. Before and 3 minutes after exercise, total oxidative status (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined in the plasma, and the Oxidative Stress Index (OSI = TOS/TAC) was calculated.
RESULTS: Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was comparable in the HBF and HLBM groups (53.12±1.51 mL/kg and 50.25±1.27 mL/kg, respectively) and significantly lower compared to the CON group (58.23±1.62 mL/kg). The CON, HBF and HLBM groups showed similar significant (P<0.05) increases in TOS levels (36%, 35% and 31%, respectively). Post-exercise TAC increased by 8% in the HBF and HLBM groups (P<0.05), compared to the 3% increase in the CON group (P>0.05). There was significant negative correlation between OSI, measured before and after exercise, and participants’ physical activity. There was no correlation between OSI and VO2max, BM, LBM, %BF and BMI.
CONCLUSIONS: Exercise at maximal intensity causes a similar increase in TOS and in TAC in subjects with increased %BF and elevated content of LBM and regardless of body composition, the ratios of TOS/TAC concentrations before and after maximal-intensity exercise, have lower values in people with higher physical activity levels and are not dependent on aerobic performance (VO2max).

KEY WORDS: Oxidative stress - Body composition - Exercise - Anaerobic threshold - Athletic performance