Abstract

Regular exercise has well documented health benefits. However, exercise can also induce imbalance between oxidant stress and antioxidant status.  This study was designed to investigate the serum lipid profile and non-enzymatic antioxidants markers (serum uric acid and albumin) as well as lipid hydroperoxide (a marker of oxidative stress) in 39 sportsmen after 2 h of strenuous training exercise and also in 24 sedentary age-matched males who served as controls subjects. Total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol were higher in the sportsmen but the difference was only significant in total and LDL-cholesterol (p<0.05). Triacylgylcerol was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the sportsmen. In addition, serum uric acid level was higher in the sportsmen (p<0.05), but the albumin values were not significantly different. The lipid hydroperoxide was significantly higher in the sportsmen (p<0.05) suggesting higher oxidative stress. It is possible that the higher uric acid, HDL-cholesterol and comparable albumin levels could ameliorate oxidative stress in the sportsmen. Since exercise remains a key aspect of a healthy life, a better knowledge on how to balance oxidative stress and antioxidant status during exercise would help to promote good health.

Key words: Sportsmen, antioxidant status, serum lipids, uric acid, albumin, lipid hydroperoxide.