Activity of selected enzymes in erythrocytes and level of plasma antioxidants in response to single whole‐body cryostimulation in humans

Abstract

The influence of extremely low temperatures on the human body and physiological reactions is not fully understood. The aim of this research was to estimate the influence of a single exposure to cryogenic temperature (-130 degrees C), without subsequent kinesiotherapy, on the activity of the most crucial antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (R-GSSG), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione transferase (T-GSH). In the plasma, the concentrations of glutathione, uric acid, albumins and extra-erythrocyte haemoglobin as components of the non-enzymatic antioxidant system were evaluated. The subjects were 10 healthy young men. Blood was sampled in the morning on the day of cryostimulation, 30 min after cryostimulation and the next morning. The enzymatic response of the antioxidant defence to the influence of the extremely low temperature resulted in an immediate, significant, increase in GPx and R-GSSG activities, but a decrease in CAT and T-GSH activities. We observed an increase in the concentrations of all the examined non-enzymatic antioxidants, especially extra-erythrocyte haemoglobin and uric acid, which had both increased further the day after cryostimulation. The results indicate that a single stimulation with cryogenic temperatures results in oxidative stress in a healthy body, but that the level of stress is not very high. It seems that in this case the most significant role in the antioxidant mechanisms is played by peroxidase.

Whole-Body Cryostimulation as an Effective Method of Reducing Oxidative Stress in Healthy Men

“…In another study by this team [31], healthy men were exposed to a single WBC session (temperature: -130º C, time: 3 min, two-step cryochamber, liquid nitrogen coolant) without subsequent kinesiotherapy. The authors observed a significant increase in GPx and GR activities, with a simultaneous decrease in CAT and glutathione S-transferase activities.…”

Changes in lipid profile in response to three different protocols of whole-body cryostimulation treatments

“…It is postulated that cryostimulation mobilizes the white blood cells, particularly immunocompetent lymphocytes [4,15,21,22]. The effect on red blood cells has not been positively confirmed.…”

“…Cryotherapy resulted in decreased levels of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) in football players, albeit with no changes in the concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA-S) [18]. Recent reports also suggest a stimulating antioxidative effect of cryostimulation [8,21].…”

“…Banfi et al reported that whole-body cryotherapy is not deleterious to cardiac function in healthy individuals [1]. Documented analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antioedematous action reduces increased muscle tension and therefore cryotherapy has been increasingly often applied in sport and medicine, in combination with additional forms of treatment [13,14,25,34,36].It is postulated that cryostimulation mobilizes the white blood cells, particularly immunocompetent lymphocytes [4,15,21,22]. The effect on red blood cells has not been positively confirmed.…”

Influence of the ten sessionsof the whole body cryostimulationon aerobic and anaerobic capacity

“…The response of the body to cold temperatures occurs through changes in the endocrine system (increase in adrenocorticotropin concentration, β-endorphins, epinephrine, norepinephrine and testosterone concentration in men) [1][2][3][4], circulatory system (contraction of blood vessels in the skin, then their dilation and congestion of the skin) [5], neuromuscular system (reduction of muscle tension, decrease in nerve conduction velocity) [6] and immunological system (increase in cell-mediated and humoral immunity) [1,[7][8][9][10]. Moreover, whole body cooling influences the prooxidant-antioxidant balance in blood [11][12][13][14], and has an anti-inflammatory [15] as well as an analgesic effect [6]. This analgesic effect is caused by the combination of increased β-endorphin concentration and decreased nerve conduction in afferent fibers, which are responsible for pain reception [2,16].…”