Exercise, oxidative stress and risk of cardiovascular disease in the elderly. Protective role of antioxidant functional foods

Abstract

Free radicals and oxidative stress are involved in the pathogenic mechanisms of cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and cancer. Exercise is a useful strategy for preventing CVD but in elderly persons it can enhance oxidative stress, which is why some studies recommend antioxidant supplementation for exercising elderly subjects. This intervention study was performed on 320 elderly subjects following a Geriatric Revitalization Program (GEREPRO) to maintain physical health and reduce CVD risk. GEREPRO was based on regular exercise concurrent with a nutritional antioxidant treatment based on daily intake of a functional antioxidant food, Biofrutas. Sustained exercise (10 months, 3 sessions/week) significantly increased cardiorespiratory fitness and plasma HDL-cholesterol; it reduced some predictors of cardiovascular risk (arterial pressure, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol/LDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C), but significantly enhanced some biomarkers of oxidative stress. Concurrent antioxidant supplementation did not produce any ergogenic effects but, meaningfully, enhanced some positive effects of exercise on physical health and the CDV risk index, and it totally prevented the exercise-induced oxidative stress. Our results show that regular and moderate exercise improves cardiorespiratory function and reduces CVD risk in elderly people, while concurrent antioxidant supplementation modulates oxidative insult during exercise in the elderly and enhances the beneficial effects of exercise.

Association of oxidative stress and paraoxonase status with PROCAM risk score

“…A significant increase in the concentration of SOD, TBARS and O 2 U− coupled with a decrease in the total SH group content in the high risk group compared with the lowrisk group was evident (Table 2). CVDs are more often than not linked to conditions of oxidative stress [33]. Jung et al [34] found significantly higher levels of TBARS in CVD patients compared with healthy controls.…”

Effects of aqua aerobics on body composition, body mass, lipid profile, and blood count in middle-aged sedentary women

“…Galán et al [32] examined 320 participants aged 58-86 years divided into two groups. The first group (EXEr) exercised 3 times a week under the supervision of a physiotherapist.…”

Therapeutic effect of phytoecdysteroids rich extract from Ajuga iva on alloxan induced diabetic rats liver, kidney and pancreas

“…The pharmacotherapy by dietary factors plays a key role in the development of various human diseases, including diabetes and immune system [14,21,32,37]. Medicinal plants continue to provide valuable therapeutic agents, in both modern medicine and traditional systems [22].…”

“…In spite of the fact that insulin has become one of the most important therapeutic agents known to medicine, researchers have been making efforts to find insulin substitutes from synthetic or plant sources for the treatment of diabetes. Many herbs have remained as an alternative to conventional therapy especially in poor areas where insulin is not readily available [14,32].…”