Strenuous exercise is detrimental to athletes because of the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Melatonin, a classic antioxidant, has been shown to exhibit beneficial effects regarding intense exercise and tissue repair. In this study, we evaluated the onset and resolution of inflammation in melatonin-treated and nontreated rats subjected to a strenuous exercise session. We also analyzed the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Control and treated rats were subjected to exhaustive exercise after a period of 10 days of melatonin treatment (20 mg/dL). Plasma and muscle levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-2-alpha/beta (CINC-2α/β), l-selectin, macrophage inflammatory protein-3-alpha (MIP-3α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured prior to, immediately after, and 2 hr after exercise. Our data revealed decreases in the muscle concentrations of IL-1β (35%), TNF-α (13%), IL-6 (48%), and TBARS (40%) in the melatonin-treated group compared with the control group. We also observed decreases in the plasma concentrations of IL-1β (17%) in the melatonin-treated group. VEGF-α concentrations and SOD activity increased by 179% and 22%, respectively, in the melatonin-treated group compared with the control group. We concluded that muscle inflammation and oxidative stress resulting from exhaustive exercise were less severe in the muscles of melatonin-treated animals than in the muscles of control animals. Thus, melatonin treatment may reverse exercise-induced skeletal muscle inflammation and stimulate growth factor synthesis.

The health promotion efficacy of a dietary regimen and physical activity guidance program applied to the São Paulo state military ppre-obese policemen exhibitedolice working in São Paulo city was investigated. The guidance program consisted of the delivery of a 10-minute talk on healthy nutritional habits and the beneficial effects of a regular physical activity practice for each volunteer personally. The physical fitness parameters related to the health of the volunteers were evaluated before and eight weeks after the interventional program. The study included 58 policemen working in São Paulo city, aged 34.9 ± 0.8 years (mean ± SEM). The application of the guidance program could decrease body fat percentage (BFP) (by 5.7%), abdominal circumference (ABC) (by 1.1%), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (by 2.4%), and increase flexibility (FLEX) (by 8.8%) and abdominal resistance (ABR) (by 5.2%). A change in physical activity behavior was also reported. Increases in the number of volunteers in very active (VA) (3.45%), active (ACT) (10.35%), and irregular active A (IRA) (5.17%) groups, and reductions in irregular active B (IRB) (13.79%) and sedentary (SED) (5.17%) groups were found. The policemen were classified (before-after) as obese (29.3%-24.1%) and pre-obese (39.7%-43.1%). Foty-three percent of preobese policemen exhibited more daily physical activity after the guidance program implementation. The guidance program was effective in increasing the adherence of pre-obese policemen to the physical activity practice, reduced the percentage of body fat and abdominal circumference, and improved lower limbs flexibility and abdominal muscle resistance.

No abstract

In this study, we evaluated the onset and resolution of inflammation in control and macadamia oil‐supplemented rats after a single session of exhaustive exercise. We also analysed the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Rats were supplemented for ten days with macadamia oil (25 mg/kg), which is rich in oleic and palmitoleic acids. On the 10th day, control and macadamia oil‐treated rats exercised to physical exhaustion. Plasma and muscular levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor alpha [TNF‐α], interleukin‐1 beta [IL‐1β], IL‐6, cytokine‐induced neutrophil chemoattractant‐3 [CINC‐3], macrophage inflammatory protein‐3‐alpha [MIP‐3α]) and soluble L‐selectin were measured prior to, immediately after, and 2, 24, and 48 h after exercise. Our data revealed increases in the muscle concentrations of IL‐1β, L‐selectin, CINC‐3, and MIP‐3α in the group supplemented with macadamia oil compared with the concentrations in the control group. CAT also increased in the treated group, which is important because pro‐inflammatory cytokines precede growth factor production and might alter the muscle repair process. We concluded that inflammation resulting from exhaustive exercise was greater in animals that received macadamia oil than in control animals. Practical applications: There are potential benefits of using fatty acids in the treatment of injured muscles, and these substances have been used in several types of injured tissues. Macadamia oil intake alters muscle healing signaling by influencing the production of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory mediators. Therefore, it is reasonable to hypothesize that the intake of immunomodulatory supplements would be beneficial to the muscular recovery of an athlete following a strenuous exercise session. The muscle healing process has three phases: inflammation, new tissue formation and tissue remodeling, and these phases might be modulated by fatty acids. After an exhaustive exercise session, muscle inflammatory markers from macadamia oil‐supplemented rats are augmented in comparison to non‐supplemented animals. Our data revealed increases in the muscle concentrations of IL‐1β, L‐selectin, CINC‐3, and MIP‐3α in the group supplemented with macadamia oil compared with the concentrations in the control group.

No abstract