Active recovery training does not affect the antioxidant response to soccer games in elite female players

Abstract

Changes in plasma endogenous and dietary antioxidants and oxidative stress markers were studied following two 90 min elite female soccer games separated by 72 h of either active or passive recovery. The active recovery group (n 8) trained for 1 h at 22 and 46 h after the first game (lowintensity cycling and resistance training), while the passive group rested (n 8). Blood samples were taken before the games; immediately after the games; 21, 45 and 69 h after the first game; and immediately after the second game. The oxidative stress markers and antioxidants were not affected by active recovery. The oxidative stress marker GSSG increased by the same extent after both the games, while the lipid peroxidation marker diacron-reactive oxygen metabolite remained unchanged. The endogenous antioxidants total glutathione and uric acid and ferric reducing/ antioxidant power increased immediately after both the games with the same amplitude, while increases in cysteine, cysteine -glycine and total thiols reached significant levels only after the second game. The changes in dietary antioxidants after the first game were either rapid and persistent (tocopherols and ascorbic acid (AA) increased; polyphenols decreased) or delayed (carotenoids). This resulted in high pre-second game levels of tocopherols, AA and carotenoids. Polyphenols returned to baseline at 69 h, and were not affected by the second game. In conclusion, the soccerassociated dietary antioxidant defence, but not the endogenous antioxidant defence, is persistent. Similar acute oxidative stress and endogenous antioxidant responses and dissimilar dietary antioxidant reactions occur during two repeated female soccer games. Finally, the complex antioxidant response to soccer is not affected by active recovery training.

Fatigue and Recovery in Soccer: Evidence and Challenges

“…The most frequently reported biomarkers of the inflammatory response include blood leukocyte count, IL-6 and CRP [148]. IL-6 increases immediately after a soccer match, but drops rapidly to pre-match levels and returns to baseline 24 hours postmatch [2,60,176], whereas neutrophil counts can remain significantly elevated 48 hours post-match [50] and CRP peak may occur between 24-48 hours post-exercise [55,58]. As a result, it can be confirmed that a single soccer game induces marked but transient inflammatory responses and clearly indicates the need of enough recovery for elite soccer players after a match [2].…”

Recovery in Soccer

“…In addition to uric acid, changes in many oxidative stress markers and antioxidants have been studied following a soccer match. [2][3][4][5]138] However, comparisons across studies are difficult as the markers studied are different.…”

Fatigue and Recovery in Soccer: Evidence and Challenges

“…The physical demands of soccer can induce EIMD [2,48], leading to strength and power decrements [49 -51], increased levels of intramuscular enzymes [2, 50 -56], a marked inflammatory response [2,50,55,57,58] and associated upregulated oxidative stress [2,48,54,59,60] during recovery. The magnitude of EIMD can vary among athletes, and is greater when a player is not accustomed to the required activity [60,61], such as in pre-season, transition between seasons, or during the recovery period from an injury.…”

“…The magnitude of EIMD can vary among athletes, and is greater when a player is not accustomed to the required activity [60,61], such as in pre-season, transition between seasons, or during the recovery period from an injury. The resulting structural changes may impair physical performance during the hours and days following the match so it is likely a major factor to consider in an attempt to explain post-soccer match fatigue [61].…”