Changes in the redox status and inflammatory response in handball players during one-year of competition and training

Abstract

The present research was designed to evaluate the adaptive responses to oxidative stress and inflammation in handball players subjected to well-controlled training intervals over one-year of competition. Seven blood samples were collected over the season of the study, approximately one a month. Plasma lipid peroxidation, nitrite, cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, INFγ and TNFα), and the glutathione cycle in erythrocytes, were measured. Exercise intensity, measured with the Borg's scale, increased significantly up to the middle of the competition season, coinciding with maximal creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase values, and then decreased at the end of the study. The inflammatory markers including nitrite, IL-1β, IL-6, and, to a lesser extent INFγ, increased early in the training season, and remained elevated until the end of the study. TNFα, however, remained low during the season. The oxidative stress response included a transient increase of the glutathione disulphide/glutathione ratio and glutathione reductase activity at the beginning of the study, returning to basal values somewhat later. Glutathione peroxidase also increased at the end of the training season, and lipid peroxidation levels remained low during the athletic season. These results suggest that well-trained athletes were best adapted to the oxidative response, although the beneficial effects of some of the inflammatory cytokines on skeletal muscle myogenesis and repair cannot be ruled out.

Effects of low-level laser therapy on performance, inflammatory markers, and muscle damage in young water polo athletes: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study

“…Increased inflammatory reactions in response to increasing training loads have been reported by some authors in handball and cycling athletes [10] while others did not find any significant alterations in inflammatory mediators during preseason training in sports teams [1,3,39]. IL-1β and TNF-α are the most important inflammatory cytokines, specifically in the early phases of the inflammatory process, and increased circulating levels can be observed in some athletes after intense or high volume exercises, such as reported during official competitions [9,40].…”

“…After a period of single or multiple exposures to highintensity exercise, increased circulating levels of soluble muscle damage biomarkers such as lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase (in addition to inflammatory markers such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein) are evident [9,10]. This is mainly observed in response to eccentric exercise [11][12][13].…”

“…This is mainly observed in response to eccentric exercise [11][12][13]. Eccentric exercise or repeated high loads may damage muscle fibers (highlighted by increased blood creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase levels), impairing muscle function, and prompting an inflammatory reaction [1,2,10]. Therefore, without sufficient recovery time and reduction in training loads, signs and symptoms of overreaching/ overtraining may appear [2], making the athletes more susceptible to decreases in performance and increases in musculoskeletal injuries [14].…”

Serum Oxidant and Antioxidant Status Following an All-Out 21-km Run in Adolescent Runners Undergoing Professional Training—A One-Year Prospective Trial

“…In fact, a similar plasma redox profile has recently been reported in professional adult handball players undergoing 1 year of competition and training. The lack of hyperoxidative state that normally follows high-intensity exercise in athletes was considerably associated with their adaptation to exercise-induced ROS production, as well as specifically designed training periodization [28]. Nevertheless, the implications of the current findings of an increase in post-exercise serum XO activity (associated with potential insufficiency of the antioxidant defense system) should not be neglected.…”

Oxidative Stress in Training, Overtraining and Detraining: from Experimental to Applied Research

“…Markers of oxidative stress may be important parameters of biological monitoring of athletes (6). Studies that have explored the redox state in athletes during the competitive season have shown that the antioxidative status changes depending on the training load and training phase (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). Periods of intensive training may lead to a decrease in antioxidative capacity and a consequent increase in oxidative stress.…”