A Single Session of Resistance Exercise Induces Oxidative Damage in Untrained Men

• Published in: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2007-12, Vol.39 (12), p.2145-2151
• Main Authors: RIETJENS, Saskia J, BEELEN, Milou, KOOPMAN, Rene, VAN LOON, Luc J. C, BAST, Aalt, HAENEN, Guido R. M. M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological - physiology; Adolescent; Adult; Antioxidants - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Exercise - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Inflammation - metabolism; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Physical Fitness - physiology; Space life sciences; Time Factors; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Weight Lifting - physiology
• ISSN: 0195-9131; 1530-0315
• DOI: 10.1249/mss.0b013e318157936d

During exercise, the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species significantly increases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a single session of resistance exercise on antioxidant capacity, oxidative damage, and inflammation. Muscle biopsies, urine, and blood samples were collected from seven healthy men before and after a single bout of resistance exercise. A single session of resistance exercise was found to induce oxidative damage, as shown by a 40% increase in the concentration of urinary F2alpha-isoprostanes (P < 0.05). Total antioxidant capacity of plasma increased 16% (P < 0.05). This increase seemed to be predominantly attributable to an increase in plasma uric acid concentrations of 53% (P < 0.05). Similar to uric acid, but to a relatively much smaller extent, vitamin C and vitamin E levels in plasma were also elevated (P < 0.05). Moreover, the erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) [corrected] concentration increased 47% during exercise (P < 0.05). Also in skeletal muscle, uric acid levels were found to increase after exercise (P < 0.05). Moreover, 30 min after exercise, skeletal muscle glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase activity increased 28 and 42%, respectively (P < 0.05). Skeletal muscle reduced GSH [corrected] and GSH [corrected] disulphide (GSSG) concentrations were not affected by exercise. The Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was not increased by exercise, indicating that a NF-kappaB-mediated inflammatory response does not occur. We conclude that a single session of resistance exercise induces oxidative damage despite an adaptive increase in antioxidant capacity of blood and skeletal muscle.