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Int J Sports Med 2009; 30(2): 87-93
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1103284
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Acute Hypoxic Exposure on Prooxidant/Antioxidant Balance in Elite Endurance Athletes

V. Pialoux 1 , R. Mounier 1 , E. Rock 2 , A. Mazur 2 , L. Schmitt 3 , J.-P. Richalet 4 , P. Robach 5 , J. Coudert 1 , N. Fellmann 1
  • 1Laboratoire de Biologie des Activités Physiques et Sportives, Facultè de Médecine, Clermont-Ferrand, France
  • 2Equipe Stress Métabolique et Micronutriments, Unité de Nutrition Humaine UMR 1019, INRA, Saint Genès Champanelle, France
  • 3Centre National de Ski Nordique, Prémanon, France
  • 4Laboratoire Réponses cellularies et fonctionnelles á l’hypoxie, EA 2363, Université Paris 13, Bobigny, France
  • 5Ecole Nationale de Ski et d’ Alpinisme, BP 24, Chamonix, France
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision July 8, 2008

Publication Date:
28 January 2009 (online)

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Abstract

We investigated whether acute hypoxic exposures could modify the pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance in elite endurance athletes, known to have efficient antioxidant status. Forty-one elite athletes were subjected to two hypoxic tests: one at an altitude of 4 800 m during 10-min of mild exercise (4 800 m test) and the second at rest for 3 h at an altitude of 3 000 m (3 000 m test). Plasma levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), malondialdehydes (MDA), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and lipid-soluble antioxidants were measured before and immediately after the 4 800 m test and at the end of the 3 000 m test. The 4 800 m and the 3 000 m tests induced a significant increase in the level of MDA and AOPP (+7.1% and +71.7% for 4 800 m test and +8.6% and +40.9% for 3 000 m test). The changes in plasma MDA and arterial oxygen saturations were significantly correlated (r=0.35) during the 3 000 m test. FRAP values (−13%) and alpha-tocopherol (−21%) were decreased following the 3 000 m test. However, following the 4 800 m test, only alpha-tocopherol was decreased (−16%). These results provide evidence that the highly-trained athletes do not have the antioxidant buffering capacity to counterbalance free radical over-production generated by acute hypoxic exposure, with or without mild exercise.

Key words

hypoxia - oxidized lipid - FRAP - AOPP - α-tocopherol - elite athletes

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Correspondence

Dr. V. PialouxPhD 

Laboratoire de Biologie des

Activités Physiques et Sportives

Facultè de Médecine

Clermont-Ferrand

France

Phone: +33/4/73 17 82 22

Fax: +33/4/73 44 83 19

Email: pialouxvincent@yahoo.fr

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