Alterations in redox homeostasis following repeated sprint training program

Abstract

This study examined the effects of a 6-week repeated sprint training program on redox-based homeostasis and its association with muscle damage. Fifteen male physical education students (aged 20.0 ± 1.0 years; body weight 77.7 ± 6.0 kg; height 181.0 ± 4.4 cm; % body fat 8.7 ± 3.0 %) familiar with intermittent activities volunteered to participate in the study. Experimental training program consisted of 2-3 sets of 6-10 straight-line or shuttle 20-meter repeated sprints with departures every 25 seconds and 2-minute inter-set passive recovery. The training intervention lasted for six weeks during which 18 training sessions were performed. The levels of 15-F_2t-isoprostanes were measured in plasma and 24-hour urine; superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in erythrocytes; uric acid and creatine kinase in serum after; the first, and the penultimate training session. The level of muscle damage following repeated sprint exercise was not significantly altered (402 to 496 U/L; p=.151) and had no significant associations with changes in marker depicting redox-homeostasis. A significant increase in plasma 15-F_2t-isoprostanes (0.32 to 0.56 ng/mL; p=.026), and subsequent decrease in glutathione reductase (1070.4 to 502.9 U/g Hb; p<.001) were observed. Urinary 15-F_2t-isoprostane levels were 25% greater in post-training, although this increase did not reach statistical significance. These results indicate that repeated sprint training program stimulates the equilibrium in redox homeostasis developing antioxidant protection to the constantly increasing training load.