Regular moderate physical activity reduces the risk of several noncommunicable diseases. At the same time, evidence exists for oxidative stress resulting from acute and strenuous exercise by enhanced formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which may lead to oxidatively modified lipids, proteins, and possibly negative effects on DNA stability. The limited data on ultraendurance events such as an Ironman triathlon show no persistent DNA damage after the events. However, when considering the effects of endurance exercise comparable to a (half) marathon or a short triathlon distance, no clear conclusions could be drawn. In order to clarify which components of exercise participation, such as duration, intensity, frequency, or training status of the subjects, have an impact on DNA stability, more information is clearly needed that combines the measurement of DNA damage, gene expression, and DNA repair mechanisms before, during, and after exercise of differing intensities and durations.Keywords: ultraendurance exercise; endurance exercise; physical activity; DNA damage; training status Oxidative stress-induced DNA damage and insufficient DNA repair have been discussed to play a significant role in processes that lead to chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis.
1It is well documented that regular moderate physical activity is associated with various health benefits, including decreased risk of the mentioned diseases; [2][3][4] however, acute, but not regular, strenuous exercise may induce oxidative stress via enhanced formation of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS). 5,6 The potential mechanisms involved in this formation are increased oxygen consumption, autoxidation of catecholamines, activation of inflammatory cells due to muscle tissue damage, and ischemia and/or hypoxia/reoxygenation damage.
7ROS formation results in oxidative modifications of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. [7][8][9] Since oxidative modifications of DNA can lead to mutations 10 and exceptionally high volumes of exercise are also associated with a substantial oxidative stress, concerns have arisen about the health effects of competing in endurance and ultraendurance exercise events, particularly when participants are not optimally trained.11 Based on the U -shaped relationship between exercise and health in general, much has to be learned on exercise of different durations, intensities, and types on oxidative stress responses and DNA stability. The current work of our group is focusing on the effects of ultraendurance exercise on oxidative stress and DNA stability.
Methods commonly used to evaluate DNA damage linked to exerciseComprehensive reviews have been published on the various methods that quantify genotoxicity in human studies 12 and therefore are not the subject of this paper.Very briefly, the most commonly applied methodologies to describe changes in DNA stability during or after physical activity are the micronucleus (MN) assay; its more developed test, the cytokinesis-block micronucle...