Aerobic and anaerobic training effects on the antioxidant enzymes of the blood

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of aerobic and anaerobic training on serum lipid peroxidation levels and on antioxidant enzyme activities. Long distance runners for aerobic training group, and wrestlers for anaerobic training group were chosen. Non-sporting men were used as control group. When the aerobic power was compared; indirect VO 2 max of long-distance runners were found higher than wrestlers and control group (p <0.001, p <0.001). When lipid peroxidation levels were compared; levels of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) of long distance runners were found to be lower than those in the control group (p <0.05), but similar to those found in wrestlers. Comparison of antioxidant enzyme activities in erythrocytes show that there were no significant difference among the groups in superoxide dismutase enzyme activities, but glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity of long distance runners was higher than that measured in wrestlers (p <0.05). These results suggest that aerobic training increased in erythrocytes GPx activity with a subsequent decrease in plasma TBARS levels but anaerobic training had no effect on this process

A comparison of the blood lipid profiles of professional sportspersons and controls

Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL- C/TC levels are important in determining the risk of coronary heart disease. The serum lipids and lipoprotein levels of regularly training sportspersons and non-sporting controls were determined and compared with each other to investigate the effects of exercise and sex on these factors. HDL-C levels of male and female training groups were higher than those of corresponding non- sporting groups (respectively P<0.01, P<0.001). The sportswomen's HDL-C levels were higher (P<0.05); and TC, TG, and LDL-C levels were lower (P<0.001) than those of sportsmen's levels. The non-sporting women's TC and TG levels were lower than those of non-sporting men's levels (P<0.001). HDL- C/TC ratio of active females was higher than that of control females (P<0.01). The corresponding difference in males was also significant. We conclude that physical activity and sex have effects on risk factors for cardiovascular disease