A comparison of total antioxidant capacity, oxidative stress status and lipoprotein profile in sprint runners and non-athletes

Exercise increases the production of free radicals, which may damage a number of cell constituents. Organisms have developed a sophisticated antioxidant system for protection against free radicals. This study was carried out to compare the antioxidant and oxidative stress status and lipoprotein profile of sprint runners and non-athlete. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), conjugated dienes (CD) and Serum lipid and lipoprotein profile (triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol) were measured in 14 male sprint runners and in equal number of age-matched non-athletes. It was found that the plasma values of MDA, CD and TAC were similar in both. groups. Athletes showed lower plasma level of total cholesterol (p=0.02). Also runners had lower levels of LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL-cholesterol and LDL/HDL ratio but they were not significant. The result suggests that regular anaerobic training dose not lead to. oxidative stress in sprint runners and also it does not have a significant effect on improvement of their lipoprotein profile.