INTRODUCTION

This study examined the effects of probiotic supplementation alone or combined with aerobic exercise on antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress after high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) in college students.

METHODS

Thirty male college students were divided into three groups: control (C), probiotic (P), and combined probiotic and exercise (PE). The 6-week intervention involved moderate-intensity cycling three times a week. All participants underwent a single session of HIIE protocol. The tests for maximal oxygen uptake (VOmax), elimination rate of lactic acid (ER), blood oxidative stress markers, and blood rheology were performed.

RESULTS

A decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was observed at baseline in the P and PE groups ( < 0.01), while significantly increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and reduced catalase activity were found in the PE group ( < 0.05). In the P and PE groups, SOD activity ( < 0.01) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level ( < 0.01) were significantly elevated after HIIE. The T-AOC level significantly increased from 0.47 ± 0.03 umol Trolox/mL to 0.78 ± 0.07 umol Trolox/mL in the P group and from 0.56 ± 0.04 umol Trolox/mL to 0.82 ± 0.05 umol Trolox/mL in the PE group. The 8-OHdG level increased significantly in both the C and P groups ( < 0.05), but remained unchanged in the PE group after the intervention. High shear rate whole blood viscosity was significantly decreased in the P and PE groups ( < 0.05). Additionally, a notable decline in plasma viscosity was observed in the PE group. After the intervention, medium and high shear rate whole blood viscosity levels ( < 0.05) were significantly lower in the PE group than in the C group, and plasma viscosity was dropped by 28.64% ( < 0.05). Following the intervention, a significant elevation in VOmax was only observed in the PE group from 38.14 ± 3.11 to 44.5 ± 2.94 mL/kg/min ( < 0.05), with a subsequent increase in ER detected after HIIE ( < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

These findings indicate that combining probiotics with aerobic exercise enhances antioxidant and aerobic capacity more effectively than probiotics alone.