Research Information System
MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE, vol.33, no.4, pp.564-567, 2001 (SCI-Expanded)
Purpose: In this study, changes in antioxidant systems due to free radicals were investigated in short distance (100-m) and long-distance (800-m) swimmers, within whom the anaerobic and aerobic metabolisms dominate, respectively. Methods: For this study, swimmers aged between 15and -21 yr swam 800 m (N = 10) and 100 m (N = 9). Venous blood samples were taken before swimming, and at 1-, 20-, and 40-min intervals after swimming. Lactate, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were determined in the blood samples. Results: The increase of lactate levels was statistically significant in the swimmers, both after the 100- and 800-m distances as compared with the preswimming levels (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Catalase activity was increased in the first minute postswimming as compared with preswimming levels. Catalase activity then decreased at the 20- and 40-min intervals as compared with the I-min postswimming interval, at both 100- and 800-m distances (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). GPx activity was also increased in the first minute after swimming as compared with preswimming levels. GPx activity then decreased at the 20- and 40-min intervals when compared with the 1-min postswimming level. This occurred in both 100- and 800-m swimmers (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). GSH activity was decreased in the first minute after swimming, compared with the preswimming levels. GSH activity then increased at the 20- and 40-min postswimming intervals, as compared with the first-minute level. Again, this occurred in both the 100- and 800-m swimmers (P < 0.001, P < 0.01). Conclusion: We concluded that both long-distance and particularly short-distance (100-m) swimming increased the activities of antioxidant defense enzymes.