Siems W G, van Kuijk F J, Maass R, Brenke R
Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty (Charite), Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
Free Radic Biol Med. 1994 Mar;16(3):299-305. doi: 10.1016/0891-5849(94)90030-2.
Ten healthy subjects who swim regularly in ice-cold water during the winter (winter swimming), were evaluated before and after this short-term whole body exposure. A drastic decrease in plasma uric acid concentration was observed during and following the exposure to the cold stimulus. We hypothesize that the uric acid decrease can be caused by its consumption after formation of oxygen radicals. In addition, the erythrocytic level of oxidized glutathione and the ratio of oxidized glutathione/total glutathione also increased following cold exposure, which supports this hypothesis. Furthermore, the baseline concentration of reduced glutathione was increased and the concentration of oxidized glutathione was decreased in the erythrocytes of winter swimmers as compared to those of nonwinter swimmers. This can be viewed as an adaptation to repeated oxidative stress, and is postulated as mechanism for body hardening. Hardening is the exposure to a natural, e.g., thermal stimulus, resulting in an increased tolerance to stress, e.g., diseases. Exposure to repeated intensive short-term cold stimuli is often applied in hydrotherapy, which is used in physical medicine for hardening.
对10名在冬季定期在冰冷水中游泳（冬泳）的健康受试者在短期全身暴露前后进行了评估。在暴露于冷刺激期间及之后，观察到血浆尿酸浓度急剧下降。我们推测尿酸降低可能是由于氧自由基形成后其被消耗所致。此外，冷暴露后红细胞中氧化型谷胱甘肽水平及其与总谷胱甘肽的比值也升高，这支持了该假设。此外，与非冬泳者相比，冬泳者红细胞中还原型谷胱甘肽的基线浓度升高，氧化型谷胱甘肽浓度降低。这可被视为对反复氧化应激的一种适应，并被假定为身体强化的机制。强化是指暴露于自然刺激，如热刺激，从而导致对应激，如疾病的耐受性增加。反复暴露于强烈的短期冷刺激常用于水疗，水疗在物理医学中用于身体强化。
