Acute Effects of Triathlon Race on Oxidative Stress Biomarkers

Abstract

The response to strenuous exercise was investigated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, oxidative damage, thiol redox status, and inflammation assessments in 32 enrolled triathlon athletes (41:9 ± 7:9 yrs) during Ironman® (IR), or half Ironman® (HIR) competition. In biological samples, inflammatory cytokines, aminothiols (glutathione (GSH), homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine (Cys), and cysteinylglycine (CysGly)), creatinine and neopterin, oxidative stress (OxS) biomarkers (protein carbonyl (PC), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS)), and ROS were assessed. Thirteen HIR and fourteen IR athletes finished the race. Postrace, ROS (HIR +20%; IR +28%; p < 0:0001), TBARS (HIR +57%; IR +101%), PC (HIR +101%; IR +130%) and urinary neopterin (HIR +19%, IR +27%) significantly (range p < 0:05-0.0001) increased. Moreover, HIR showed an increase in total Cys +28%, while IR showed total aminothiols, Cys, Hcy, CysGly, and GSH increase by +48, +30, +58, and +158%, respectively (range p < 0:05-0.0001). ROS production was significantly correlated with TBARS and PC (R 2 = 0:38 and R 2 = 0:40; p < 0:0001) and aminothiols levels (range R 2 = 0:17-0.47; range p < 0:01-0.0001). In particular, ROS was directly correlated with the athletes' age (R 2 = 0:19; p < 0:05), with ultraendurance years of training (R 2 = 0:18; p < 0:05) and the days/week training activity (R 2 = 0:16; p < 0:05). Finally, the days/week training activity (hours/in the last 2 weeks) was found inversely correlated with the IL-6 postrace (R 2 = -0:21; p < 0:01). A strenuous performance, the Ironman® distance triathlon competition, alters the oxidant/antioxidant balance through a great OxS response that is directly correlated to the inflammatory parameters; furthermore, the obtained data suggest that an appropriate training time has to be selected in order to achieve the lowest ROS production and IL-6 concentration at the same time.

Transient Reduction of FMD-Response and L-Arginine Accompanied by Increased Levels of E-Selectin, VCAM, and ICAM after Prolonged Strenuous Exercise

“…FMD is partly NO-dependent [ 4 ] and reduced levels of NO could therefore explain the reduced FMD response in a state with endothelial inflammation. A recent article showed significantly increased ROS production rates in capillary blood after completing an ironman distance triathlon [ 35 ], supporting this hypothesis.…”

Physical Activity and Redox Balance in the Elderly: Signal Transduction Mechanisms

“…For example, triathlon competitions like Ironman or Half Ironman significantly increase the levels of oxidative stress markers, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha). However, the training hours spent before the competitions were inversely correlated with the level of IL-6 found, suggesting that only IL-6 is related to the time of training [52]. In aged subjects affected by rheumatoid arthritis, 10 weeks of a walking-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) increased ROS production, but there were no significant changes in the levels of inflammatory markers such as IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) [53].…”

“…Contrasting results have been obtained on the role of exercise on plasma levels of cytokines [52][53][54]. For example, triathlon competitions like Ironman or Half Ironman significantly increase the levels of oxidative stress markers, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha).…”

Effect of Running Exercise on Oxidative Stress Biomarkers: A Systematic Review

“…Moreover, there have been several arguments on whether extreme training sessions like ultra-marathons may increase the health benefits of physical exercise. The level of oxidation response (ROS level) which improves the exercise performance or increases the exercise-induced benefits is ambiguous (Mrakic-Sposta et al, 2020 ). Measuring the oxidative damage by selecting suitable biomarkers, nutrition, individual physical condition, type, and intensity of running exercise among the runners (Mrakic-Sposta et al, 2020 ) are all aspects that should be focused on.…”

“…The level of oxidation response (ROS level) which improves the exercise performance or increases the exercise-induced benefits is ambiguous (Mrakic-Sposta et al, 2020 ). Measuring the oxidative damage by selecting suitable biomarkers, nutrition, individual physical condition, type, and intensity of running exercise among the runners (Mrakic-Sposta et al, 2020 ) are all aspects that should be focused on. However, no studies have firmly established these aspects in terms of improving running exercise performance and the benefits.…”