Blood Oxidative Stress Markers After Ultramarathon Swimming

Abstract

Data on redox balance in response to marathon swimming are lacking, whereas findings from studies using other types of ultraendurance exercise are controversial. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ultramarathon swimming on selective blood oxidative stress markers. Five well-trained male swimmers aged 28.8 (6.0) years participated in the study. Blood samples were obtained before and after the ultramarathon swimming, for full blood count analysis and determination of protein carbonyls, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The swimmers swam 19.4 (3.4) hours, covering 50.5 (15.0) km. Hematocrit and erythrocyte count, and leukocyte, neutrophil and monocyte counts were significantly elevated after swimming, whereas protein carbonyls, TBARS and TAC did not significantly change. The findings of the present study indicate that well-trained swimmers were able to regulate a redox homeostasis during ultra-long duration swimming. It is also postulated that the relatively low intensity of marathon swimming may not be a sufficient stimulus to induce oxidative stress in well-trained swimmers. The fact that low-intensity long-duration exercise protocols are not associated with oxidative damage is useful knowledge for coaches and athletes in scheduling the content of the training sessions that preceded and followed these exercise protocols.

The Physiological Responses to 5000 m Open Water Swimming Exercise in Children

“…4 In a study of well-trained adult male swimmers, no OS was found after ultra-marathon swimming. 5 Although it was not observed any serious OS in the studies carried out on adults, the physiological stress and OS levels of OWS in child swimmers are unknown. [5][6][7] The responses of children may differ from those of adults, because there are several metabolic and physiologic differences between children and adults.…”

“…5 Although it was not observed any serious OS in the studies carried out on adults, the physiological stress and OS levels of OWS in child swimmers are unknown. [5][6][7] The responses of children may differ from those of adults, because there are several metabolic and physiologic differences between children and adults. 8 It has been reported that children can be more sensitive to OS during chronic exercise and exhibit disturbances in redox balance at rest.…”

The effect of Protandim supplementation on oxidative damage and athletic performance.

“…With a random effects model, the effect size was +1.2 (95% CI = 0.3 to 2.0, p = 0.007). There was a heterogeneity effect between studies (Q = 81.3, Df = 8, p < 0.001) 13,19,25,28,38,39,45,48,49,52 .…”

“…In the review of literature on the acute effects of intense exercise on oxidative damage, as represented by lipid peroxidiation obtained from serum blood samples, there was a mean increase in oxidative damage with an standardized mean difference (or effect size) +1.6 using a random effects model (n = 282 subjects, 22 studies, Figure 1 5,8,25,[38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56] ).…”

“…With a random effects model, the effect size was +1.6 (95% CI = 0.9 to 2.3, p < 0.001). There was a heterogeneity effect between studies (Q = 278.4, Df = 21, p < 0.001) 5,8,25,[38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56] . Figure 2.…”