This study examined the influence of training volume on resting and exercise-induced
plasma markers of oxidative stress (MDA concentration) and antioxidant status (GPX,
CAT & SOD erythrocyte activities). Moderately trained participants (TG) (n=6; 4 males
and 2 females; 25±1.8 years) and sedentary control subjects (CG) participated in the
8-week investigation. The TG increased their training volume from ~4.9 to ~18 h.wk−1 by the end of the investigation. Before the increase in training volume and at 2-week
intervals the TG completed a 30 km cycling time trial (TT30) where resting-and post-exercise blood was sampled and analysed for oxidative stress
and antioxidant status. The CG had their resting blood sampled and analysed fortnightly.
The data showed that TT30 performance improved in the first 4 weeks but remained unchanged in the last 4. Resting
plasma MDA and CAT increased in response to training, with no change in the resting
activities of erythrocyte GPX and SOD. Post-TT30 MDA and CAT increased over the training period and training hours positively related
to both resting-and post-TT30 MDA. The increase in resting MDA and the up-regulation in CAT in response to an increased
training volume may have a role in the identification of a training and performance
plateau.
Key words
antioxidants - malondialdehyde - lipid peroxidation - endurance training - exercise
physiology
