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Int J Sports Med 1991; 12(6): 563-566
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1024734
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Erythrocyte Free Radical Scavenger Enzymes in Bicycle Professional Racers. Adaptation to Training

P. Mena, M. Maynar, J. M. Gutierrez, J. Maynar, J. Timon, J. E. Campillo
  • Department of Physiology. Faculty of Medicine. University of Extremadura. Badajoz. Spain
This work was supported by a Grant from the Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia. Spain. (CICYT-DEP88-0760).
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Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the influence of endurance training on the activities of the scavenger enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px) measured in erythrocytes from sedentary subjects, amateur bicycle racers and in professional bicycle racers who were cycling in two real cyclist contests including the top-class race Vuelta a Espana (VCE). Under resting conditions the SOD activity was higher (p < 0.01) in cyclists than in controls. The activities of CAT and GSH-Px were higher (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively) under resting conditions in professional cyclists versus measured both in sedentary subjects and amateur cyclists. The enzyme activities were not modified significantly in professional cyclists after a bout of exercise of 22 km in 5 hrs, but the SOD activity was increased (p < 0.05) and CAT activity reduced (p < 0.05) after 2800 km in 20 days (VCE). The present results shown that aerobic endurance training, when at a professional level, produces an increase in the erythrocyte activities of the main free radicals scavenger enzymes.

Key words

Lipoperoxidation - exercise - superoxide dismutase - catalase - glutathione peroxidase - erythrocytes - cycling