Oxidative stress responses in physical education students during 8 weeks aerobic training

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate responses of selected markers of oxidative stress in physical education students during aerobic training. METHODS: Twenty male students were randomly assigned into either a control (mean+/-SD: age 23.5+/-1.4 years, height 1.72+/-0.06 m, body mass 68.9+/-5.8 kg, n=10) or an aerobic training (mean+/-SD: age 23.8+/-1.8 years, height 1.66+/-0.03 m, body mass 65.5+/-4.8 kg, n=10, 3 training sessions per week, 8 weeks, running at 75-80% of HR(max)) group. Plasma samples, collected at rest and after exercise to exhaustion before and after 8 weeks, were analysed for the determination of selected markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde MDA, carbonylated proteins CP, and creatine kinase CK). RESULTS: Aerobic training caused a 10% increase in maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2max)) and a 9% increase in exercise time to exhaustion (P<0.05). The aerobic training did not significantly change (P>0.05) MDA and CP levels at rest and after exercise to exhaustion. An exhaustive exercise caused a substantial increase (P<0.05) of CK in both groups independent of treatment and time of measurement. However, aerobic training did not prevent serum CK from increasing after exercise to exhaustion (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that this pattern of moderate aerobic exercise training did not have any effect on oxidative stress levels in moderately trained physical education students, whereas it enhanced their functional performance and aerobic power of these physical education students.