Physical training induces beneficial adaptations; however, exhausting exercise increases reactive oxygen species generation, resulting in damage to DNA and tissues. Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense), a fruit of the Brazilian Cerrado, contains a carotenoid-rich oil. We investigated whether pequi oil had antioxidant effects in runners. Evaluations were made after outdoor races before and after ingestion of 400 mg pequi-oil capsules for 14 days. Blood samples were taken after races and submitted to comet and TBARS assays and biochemical analyses of creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). To determine if the protective effects of pequi-oil were influenced by antioxidant enzyme genotypes, MnSOD (-Val9Ala), CAT (-21A/T) and GPX1 (Pro198Leu) gene polymorphisms were also investigated. Pequi oil was efficient in reducing tissue injuries evaluated for AST and ALT, particularly in women, and in reducing DNA damages in both sexes. Except for CK levels, the results were influenced by MnSOD genotypes; heterozygous excess was related to less DNA damage, tissue injury and lipid peroxidation, besides presenting a better response to pequi oil against exercise-induced damage.

Many potentially significant genetic variants related to oxidative stress have been identified and performance in endurance sports is a multi-factorial phenotype. Thus, it was decided to investigate the influences of the haptoglobin (Hp), MnSOD (Val9Ala), CAT (21A/T), GPX1 (Pro198Leu), ACE, glutathione S-transferases M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) genes' polymorphisms on the oxidative stress and damage suffered by human athletes (runners). Blood samples taken immediately after a race were submitted to genotyping, comet and TBARS assays, biochemical analyses of creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). MnSOD significantly influenced results of CK and a possible association between Hp1F-1S and Hp1S-2 genotypes with a superior TBARS values was found. Higher or lower TBARS and CK values or DNA damage also depended on the interaction between Hp and ACE or GST genotypes, indicating that MnSOD and Hp polymorphisms can be determining factors in performance, at least for runners.

ABSTRACT. Chronic myeloid leukemia is a hematopoietic stem cell disorder that causes uncontrolled proliferation of white blood cells. Although the clinical and biological aspects are well documented, little is known about individual susceptibility to this disease. We conducted a case-control study analyzing the prevalence of the polymorphisms MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C, del{GSTM1}, del{GSTT1}, and haptoglobin in 105 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and 273 healthy controls, using PCR-based methods. A significant association with risk of developing CML was found for MTHFR 1298AA (odds ratio (OR) = 1.794; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14-2.83) and GSTM1 non-null (OR = 1.649; 95%CI = 1.05-2.6) genotypes, while MTHFR 1298AC (OR = 0.630; 95%CI = 0.40-G.S. Lordelo et al. 1014©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 11 (2): 1013-1026 (2012) 0.99) and GSTM1 null (OR = 0.606; 95%CI = 0.21-0.77) genotypes significantly decreased this risk. There appeared to be selection for heterozygosity at the MTHFR 1298 locus. The considerable range of variation in this and other human populations may be a consequence of distinctive processes of natural selection and adaptation to variable environmental conditions. The Brazilian population is very mixed and heterogeneous; we found these two loci to be associated with CML in this population.

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Physical training induces beneficial adaptation, whereas exhaustive exercises increase reactive oxygen-species generation, thereby causing oxidative damage in plasma and erythrocytes, fractions susceptible to lipid peroxidation. Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) is a Brazilian Cerrado fruit containing a carotenoid-rich oil. The aim was to investigate the effects of pequi-oil on exercise-induced oxidative damage in plasma and erythrocytes, after running in the same environment and undergoing weekly training under the same conditions as to type, intensity and length. Evaluations were accomplished after outdoor running on flat land before and after ingestion of 400 mg pequi-oil capsules for 14 days. Blood samples were taken after running and submitted to TBARS assay and erythrogram analysis. Haptoglobin, MnSOD (Val9Ala), CAT (21A/T) and GPX1 (Pro198Leu) gene polymorphisms were priorly investigated, so as to estimate genetic influence The reduction in erythrocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit after pequi-oil treatment was notably associated with higher plasma expansion. Except for MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) and RDW (red cell distribution width), the results were influenced by the polymorphisms studied. The best response to pequi-oil was presented by MnSOD Val/Val, CAT AA or AT genotypes and the GPX1 Pro allele. The significantly lower RDW and higher MHCH values were related to pequi-oil protective effects. Pequi oil, besides possessing other nutritional properties, showed protective blood effects.

Context: Exhausting exercise, increasing reactive oxygen species, can overwhelm the endogenous antioxidant system's capacity, resulting in oxidative damage to DNA. Deficient antioxidant defenses, influenced by certain genetic polymorphisms, may contribute. Aims: We aimed to investigate whether carotenoid-rich oil from pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) could decrease DNA damage in athletes submitted to increased hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) conditions and in those less genetically favored by antioxidant defenses. Methods and Material: Runners' blood (N = 125) was analyzed after races under the same environment, type, intensity and length of weekly training conditions, before and after 14 days of pequi-oil supplementation. DNA damage was assessed by comet assay before and after H 2 O 2 exposure, with gene polymorphisms of MnSOD Val9Ala, CAT -21A/T, GPx-1 Pro198Leu, del{GSTM1}, del{GSTT1}, ACE and Haptoglobin. Results: Without additional oxidative stress imposed by H 2 O 2 , pequi oil was particularly efficient reducing DNA damage for women, age group of 20-40 years, distance of 8-10 Km and genotypes MnSOD Val/Ala, CAT TT, GPx-1 Pro/Leu, GSTM1 null, GSTT1 non-null, ACE DD and II and Hp1F-2. For treatment with H 2 O 2 at 0.25 mM, pequi oil resulted in decreased DNA damage only for running 16-21 Km; for treatment with 1 mM, decrease was for 20-40 years and genotypes GPx-1 Pro/Pro and ACE ID. Conclusions: Pequi oil's effect on exercise-induced DNA damage was therefore influenced by sex, age and genetic polymorphisms, indicating that: long-distance races can be harmful, mainly for older athletes, due to oxidative stress above organism adaptability; genotypes showed different responses; under increased H 2 O 2 conditions, GPx-1 Pro/Pro and ACE ID genotypes were more responsive to antioxidant supplementation. IntroductIonHydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is an important representative reactive oxygen species (ROS) that arises during the aerobic respiration process and from other cellular sources.[ [2] However, oxidative stress can be caused by excessive production Key-words: reactive oxygen species; hydrogen peroxide; exercise-induced oxidative stress; exercise-induced DNA damage; comet assay; gene polymorphisms related to oxidative stress Key Messages: the present study can help broaden knowledge of how antioxidant supplementation affects exercise-induced DNA damage and how individual athletic genetic makeup can affect the way athletes respond to antioxidant supplementation against exercise-induced DNA damage.Correspondence Phone numbers: +55 61 3107-3085, Fax: +55 61 3273-4942

This suggests that, for individuals carrying the same genotypes of antioxidant enzymes' genes, the effect of H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress depends mainly on age and physical training. It also suggests that aerobic physical training can reduce oxidative damages to DNA, preventing related diseases in older people.

ABSTRACT. Essential hypertension is a complex and multifactorial trait; genetic and environmental factors interact to produce the final phenotype. Studies have demonstrated association of hypertension with varied gene polymorphisms. However, demonstration of common genetic causes in the general population remains elusive. We investigated a possible association between hypertension and haptoglobin, angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), glutathione S-transferases GSTM1 and GSTT1, MnSOD (Val9Ala), CAT (-21A/ T), and GPX1 (Pro198Leu) gene polymorphisms in an urban Brazilian population group from Brasília. Although ACE has been reported to be one of the main polymorphisms associated with hypertension, we found no association with ACE's specific genotypes. However, a possible 2167 ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 9 (4): 2166-2175 (2010) Gene polymorphisms linked to hypertension in Brazil association with Hp1-1 and MnSOD Val/Ala genotypes suggests that, at least for the Brazilian population, polymorphisms related to oxidative stress should be more deeply investigated.