Physical Activity, Fitness and Integrated Antioxidant System in Healthy Active Elderly Women

We have related the oxidative stress and antioxidant defence system to maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max) and physical activity in elderly women. Twenty-nine community dwelling, healthy, active women aged 66-82 years participated in this study. Physical activity was measured by a questionnaire and expressed using two physical activity indices: mean habitual daily energy expenditure (MHDEE) and daily energy expenditure corresponding to leisure time sports activities (Sports activity index). Malondialdehyde (MDA), plasma total antioxidant status (TAS), the red blood cell (RBC) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) as well as serum GPX activities were determined under resting conditions. MDA was correlated positively with VO₂max (r = 0.42), while RBC GPX was significantly negatively associated with VO₂max (r= - 0.39), MHDEE (r = - 0.38) and sports activity index (rho = - 0.36). Our data suggest that in healthy active older women the relationship between physical activity/fitness and antioxidant defence system may be complex, and that for some parameters an unfavourable influence of strenuous exercise may exist. The findings of this cross-sectional design need to be supported in further prospective studies before the associations are accepted as real.

Key words

Free radicals - training - exertion - age