Effect of moderate-intensity resistance exercise training on plasma antioxidant capacity and inflammation factors in healthy males

Improvement of antioxidant capacity and lessening the concentration of inflammatory markers by physical activity and exercise has received a lot of attention by researchers. The present study was performed to assess the effects of moderate- intensity resistance exercise training on total antioxidant capacity (TAC)، creatine kinase activity (CK)، resting levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β). 20 healthy volunteer men participated in the study and assigned randomly to resistance training (RT) (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. Blood samples were obtained from antecubital vein in pre and post-test steps. Then activity of CK and alterations in the plasma levels of TAC، IL-6 and IL-1β were measured. The subjects commenced resistance training on alternate days (3 days/week) for eight weeks using 65 to 70% of their one repetition maximum (1RM). Considering groups × time interaction، no significant differences were found in the variables of CK (P=0. 321)، TAC (0. 523)، IL-6 (P=0. 085) and IL-1β (P=0. 11) between RT and control groups after eight weeks of training. However، we found that CK activity and TAC increased insignificantly in RT in the post test step. We concluded that moderate- intensity resistance exercise training for eight weeks could not increase plasma antioxidant capacity and did not change inflammation factors. However، it seems that this protocol did not produce any significant change in oxidative stress and it did not lead to increased basal concentration of cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-1β.