Comparison of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity before and after running exercises in both sexes.

BACKGROUND

It has been difficult to determine, from the published literature, whether men or women have higher levels of exercise-induced oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare variations between the sexes in lipid hydroperoxide (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) after 3 different running exercises performed at the same speed.

METHODS

Eligible participants were healthy university students of both sexes. The participants performed running exercise tests at distances of 800, 1500, and 3000 m at a speed of 10 km/h. Blood samples were taken from the participants just before and immediately after the running activities to determine LPO, SOD, CAT, GR, and LDH, and these measures were compared both before and after exercise and between the sexes.

RESULTS

A total of 17 young and healthy, but not physically trained, students (n = 8 men; mean age, 22.00 years; n = 9 women; mean age, 21.78 years) participated in this study. Height, weight, and maximum oxygen consumption values were significantly higher in men than in women (P = 0.01). Significant gender effects were found in LPO levels at 3000 m (F = 5.51; P = 0.03) and in SOD activity at 800 m (F = 7.92; P = 0.01) and 3000 m (F = 6.05; P = 0.03). CAT activity also differed between the sexes at 800 m (F = 15.67; P = 0.01) and 1500 m (F = 6.55; P = 0.02). However, no significant gender-time interaction effect was observed for any measurement at the 800-, 1500-, and 3000-m distances.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in LPO, SOD, and CAT activities at different running distances were not different between men and women over time because of a nonsignificant gender-time interaction. With regard to changes in oxidative stress, men and women had similar responses to exercise at the same absolute workload, despite significant differences in physical characteristics.