Effects of Alpine Ski Trainings on Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Levels

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the oxidant and antioxidant levels that could be observed during a single unit slalom and giant slalom trainings routinely practiced by alpine skiers by measuring the Total Oxidant Capacity (TOC) and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC). 18 male athletes, aged between 18 and 29 and experienced in the international alpine ski competitions, participated voluntarily in the study. Initially, body weight, height, body mass index, and VO2max values of the volunteers were determined as required. Next, the volunteers underwent giant slalom and slalom training, lasted 2.5 hours with five days interval, on the competition slope that complies with the international standards. Venous blood samples of the volunteers were collected before and after both training applied and so TOC and TAC values were found out accordingly. While no significant change was observed in TOC values after both slalom and giant slalom applied, a significant increase was detected in TAC values (p<0.05). The reason for not observing any significant increase in TOC values though a significant increase has been detected in TAC values, may be due to the increased antioxidant enzymes which compress any increase in oxidant enzymes. Furthermore, the fact that alpine ski competition and training loads have been both in short-term and occurred at medium and high intensities rather than maximal intensity may have resulted with an antioxidant system which has been more activated than the oxidant system.

Keywords

• Total Oxidant Capacity
• Total Antioxidant Capacity
• Athletic Performance

Alp Kayağı Antrenmanlarının Oksidatif Stres ve Antioksidan Düzeylerine Etkisi

Öz

Bu çalışmada alp kayakçılarının rutin olarak gerçekleştirdikleri tek bir birim slalom ve büyük slalom antrenmanları süresince oluşabilecek olan oksidan ve antioksidan seviyelerinin total oksidan seviye (TOS) ve total antioksidan seviye (TAS) ölçümleri ile incelenmesi planlandı. Çalışmaya, uluslararası alp disiplini yarışmaları deneyimine sahip, 18-29 yaş aralığında 18 erkek sporcu gönüllü olarak katıldı. İlk olarak gönüllülerin vücut ağırlığı, boy uzunluğu, beden kitle indeksi ve MaxVO2 değerleri tespit edildi. Daha sonra, gönüllülere uluslararası standartlara uygun olan yarışma pistinde, beş gün arayla 2.5 saat süren büyük slalom ve slalom antrenmanları uygulandı. Her iki antrenman uygulaması öncesinde ve sonrasında gönüllülerden venöz kan örnekleri alınarak TOS ve TAS değerleri tespit edildi. Hem slalom hem de büyük slalom sonrasında TOS değerlerinde anlamlı bir değişim gözlenmezken, TAS değerlerinde anlamlı bir artış tespit edildi (p<0.05). TAS değerlerinde anlamlı bir artış gözlenmesine rağmen TOS değerlerinde anlamlı bir artış gözlenmemesinin nedeni, artış gösteren antioksidan enzimlerin oksidan enzimlerdeki artışı baskılaması olabilir. Ayrıca, alp kayağı yarışma ve antrenman yüklenmelerinin hem kısa süreli olması hem de maksimal şiddetten ziyade orta ve yüksek şiddette gerçekleşmesi, antioksidan sistemin oksidan sisteme oranla daha fazla aktive olmasına neden olmuş olabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Toplam Oksidan Kapasitesi
• Toplam Antioksidan Kapasitesi
• Atletik Performans

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