Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2000; 21(3): 154-157
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-8881
Review
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

Physical Activity and Oxidative Stress During Aging

M. C. Polidori, P. Mecocci, A. Cherubini, U. Senin
  • Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Perugia University Hospital, Perugia, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Physical activity and exercise have several beneficial effects for physical and psychological health in young and aged subjects. Exercise may reduce age-related lean body mass loss and risk for several chronic diseases including coronary artery disease, hypertension, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, anxiety, depression, functional decline, and frailty. Exercise, however, especially when performed strenuously, is associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species, able to consume endogenous antioxidants and eventually to damage biological molecules and key cellular components. Therefore, the balance between beneficial and potentially harmful effects of exercise might be of particular importance in the elderly, in which nutritional deficiencies, sedentary lifestyle, and comorbidity commonly concur to a depletion of the antioxidant reservoir of the organism and increased susceptibility to oxidative stress.

The aim of this review is to summarize current experimental, clinical, and epidemiological knowledge regarding known associations and potential links between oxidative stress and physical activity/exercise during aging. Before a final recommendation can be made with respect to the possible preventive and therapeutical role of antioxidant supplementation in aged exercising people, there is a substantial need for further studies to be performed on this topic.

Key words:

Free radicals - vitamins - antioxidants - lipid peroxidation - exercise - aging

References

  • 1 American College of Sports Medicine . Exercise and physical activity for older adults.  Pos Stand Med Sci Sport Exerc. 1998;  30 992-1008
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Beal M F. Aging, energy, and oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases.  Ann Neurol. 1995;  38 357-366
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Beckman K B, Ames B N. The free radical theory of aging matures.  Phys Rev. 1998;  78 547-581
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Berger T, Polidori M C, Morrow J, Evans P, Halliwell B, Frei B. Antioxidant properties of vitamin C in presence of bleomycin-detectable free iron in cord plasma of preterm infants.  J Biol Chem. 1997;  272 15656-15660
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Brierley E J, Johnson M A, James O F, Turnbull D M. Effects of physical activity and age on mitochondrial functions.  Quart J Med. 1996;  89 251-258
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Brooks G A, Fahey T. Exercise Physiology. Human Bioenergetics and its Application. New York; Macmillan 1984
  • 7 Cannon J G, Orencole S F, Fielding R A, Meydani M, Meydani S N, Fiatarone M A, Blumberg J B, Evans W J. Acute phase response in exercise: interaction of age and vitamin E on neutrophils and muscle enzyme release.  Am J Physiol. 1990;  259 1219
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Cherubini A, Donahue J L, Lowenthal D T, Mecocci P, Meuleman J R, Maggio D, Senin U. The effect of aging and exercise on cardiovascular performance in healthy elderly.  Am J Geriat Cardiol. 1998;  7 25-32
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Cherubini A, Lowenthal D T, Williams L S, Maggio D, Mecocci P, Senin U. Physical activity and cardiovascular health in the elderly.  Aging Clin Exp Res. 1998;  10 13-25
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Dengel D R, Hagberg J M, Pratley R E, Rogus E M, Goldberg A P. Improvements in blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and lipoprotein lipids after aerobic exercise plus weight loss in obese, hypertensive middle-aged men.  Metabolism. 1998;  47 1075-1082
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Duthie G G, Robertson J D, Maughan R J, Morrice P C. Blood antioxidant status and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation following distance running.  Arch Biochem Biophys. 1990;  78 282
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Evans W J. Exercise training guidelines for the elderly.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 12-17
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Evelo C TA, Palmen L GM, Artur Y, Janssen G ME. Changes in blood glutathione concentrations, and in erythrocyte glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase activity after running training and after participation in contests.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1992;  64 354
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Fiatarone Singh M A. Combined exercise and dietary intervention to optimize body composition in aging.  Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1998;  854 378-393
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Fiebig R, Leeuwenburgh C, Li J J. The effects of aging and training on myocardial antioxidant systems and lipid peroxidation.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;  26 133
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Frei B. Natural Antioxidants in Human Health and Disease. Boston; Academic Press 1994
  • 17 Goldfarb A H, McIntosh M K, Boyer B T, Fatouros J. Vitamin E effects on indexes of lipid peroxidation in muscle from DHEA-treated and exercised rats.  J Appl Physiol. 1994;  76 1630-1635
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Harman D. Aging: a theory based on free radical and radiation chemistry.  J Gerontol. 1956;  2 298-300
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Hänninen O, Atalay M. Oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle. In: Reznick AZ, Packer L, Sen CK, Holloszy JO, Jackson MJ (eds) Oxidative stress in skeletal muscle. Basel; Birkhäuser 1998: 29-42
    Google Scholar
  • 20 Hughes V A, Fiatarone M A, Fielding R A, Ferrara C M, Elahi D, Evans W J. Long term effects of a high carbohydrate diet and exercise on insulin action in older subjects with impaired glucose tolerance.  Am J Clin Nutr. 1995;  62 426-433
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Ji L L, Wu E, Thomas D P. Effect of exercise training on antioxidant and metabolic functions in senescent and rat skeletal muscle.  Gerontology. 1991;  37 317-325
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Ji L L. Exercise, oxidative stress, and antioxidants.  Am J Sports Med. 1996;  24 24
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Ji L L, Leeuwenburgh C, Leichtweis S, Gore M, Fiebig R, Hollander J, Bejma J. Oxidative stress and aging. Role of exercise and its influence on antioxidants systems.  Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1998;  854 102-117
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Kanter M. Free radicals, exercise and antioxidant supplementation.  Proc Nutr Soc. 1998;  57 9-13
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Kim J D, Yu B P, McCarter R JM, Lee S Y, Herlihy J T. Exercise and diet modulate cardiac lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defenses.  Free Radic Biol Med. 1996;  20 83-88
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Kostka T, Drai J, Berthouze S E, Lacour J R, Bonnefoy M. Physical activity, fitness and integrated antioxidant systems in healthy active elderly women.  Int J Sports Med. 1998;  19 462-467
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Kretzschmar M, Müller D. Aging, training and exercise. A review of effects on plasma glutathione and lipid peroxides.  Sports Med. 1993;  15 196-209
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Lawler J M, Powers S K, Visser T, Van Dijk H, Korthuis M J, Ji L L. Acute exercise and skeletal muscle antioxidant and metabolic enzymes: effect of fiber type and age.  Am J Physiol. 1993;  265 1350
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Lawler J M, Powers S K. Oxidative stress, antioxidant status, and the contracting diafragm.  Can J Appl Physiol. 1998;  23 23-55
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Leeuwenburgh C, Fiebig R, Chandwaney R, Ji L L. Aging and exercise training in skeletal muscle: responses of glutathione and antioxidant enzyme systems.  Am J Physiol. 1994;  67 445
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Mc Murdo M ET, Mole P A, Paterson C R. Controlled trial of weight bearing exercise in older women in relation to bone density and falls.  Br Med J. 1997;  314 569
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Mecocci P, MacGarvey U, Kaufman A E, Koontz D, Shoffner J M, Wallace D W, Beal M F. Oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA shows marked age-dependent increases in human brain.  Ann Neurol. 1993;  34 609-616
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Mecocci P, Polidori M C, Ingegni T, Cherubini A, Chionne F, Cecchetti R, Senin U. Oxidative damage to DNA in lymphocytes from AD patients.  Neurology. 1998;  51 1014-1017
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Mecocci P, Fanó G, Fulle S, MacGarvey U, Shinobu L, Polidori M C, Cherubini A, Vecchiet J, Senin U, Beal M F. Age-dependent increases in oxidative damage to DNA, lipids and proteins in human skeletal muscle.  Free Radic Biol Med. 1999;  26 303-308
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Mezzetti A, Lapenna D, Romano F, Costantini F, Pierdomenico S D, De Cesare D, Cuccurullo F, Riario-Sforza G, Zuliani G, Fellin R, . Associazione Medica Sabin . Systemic oxidative stress and its relationship with age and illness.  J Am Geriat Soc. 1996;  44 823-827
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Meydani M. Vitamin E requirement in relation to dietary fish oil and oxidative stress in the elderly.  EXS. 1992;  62 411-418
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Meydani M, Evans W J. Free radicals, exercise, and aging. In: Yu BP (ed) Free Radicals in Aging. Boca Raton; CRC Press 1993: 183-204
    Google Scholar
  • 38 Navarro-Arevalo A, Sancez-del-Pino M J. Age and exercise-related changes in lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity in liver and soleus muscle tissues of rats.  Mech Ageing Dev. 1998;  104 91-102
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Nielsen A N, Mizuno M, Ratkevicius A, Mohr T, Rohde M, Mortensen S A, Quistorff B. No effect of antioxidant supplementation in triathletes on maximal oxygen uptake, 31P-NMRS detected muscle energy metabolism and muscle fatigue.  Int J Sports Med. 1999;  20 154-158
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Ohkuwa T, Sato Y, Naoi M. Glutathione status and reactive oxygen generation in tissues of young and old exercised rats.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1997;  159 237-244
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Paffenbarger R S, Hyde P HR, Wing A L, Lee I M, Jung D L, Kampert J B. The association of changes in physical-activity level and other lifestyle characteristics with mortality among men.  N Engl J Med. 1993;  328 538-545
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 Pate R R, Pratt M, Blair S, Haskell W L, Macera C A, Bouchard C, Buchner D, Ettinger W, Heath G W, King A C, Kriska A, Leon A S, Markus B H, Morris J, Paffenbarger R S, Patrick K, Pollock M, Rippe J M, Sallis J, Wilmore J H. Physical activity and public health. A recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine.  J Am Med Ass. 1995;  273 402-407
    Google Scholar
  • 43 Pinzani P, Petruzzi E, Orlando C, Stefanescu A M, Antonini M F, Serio M, Pazzagli M. Reduced serum antioxidant capacity in healthy centenarians.  Clin Chem. 1997;  43 855-856
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 44 Poulsen H E, Loft S, Vistisen K. Extreme exercise and oxidative DNA modification.  J Sports Sci. 1996;  14 343-346
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 45 Reznick A Z, Packer L, Sen C K, Holloszy J O, Jackson M J. Oxidative Stressin Skeletal Muscle. Basel; Birkhäuser 1998
  • 46 Rondanelli M, Melzi D'Eril G V, Anesi A, Ferrari E. Altered oxidative stress in healthy old subjects.  Aging Clin Exp Res. 1997;  9 221-223
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 47 Sen C K. Oxidants and antioxidants in exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1995;  79 675-686
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 48 Shephard R J. Exercise and cancer: linkage with obesity?.  Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 1996;  36 321-339
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 49 Sies H. Oxidative stress: introductory remarks. In: Sies H (ed) Oxidative Stress. Orlando; Academic Press 1985: 1-8
    Google Scholar
  • 50 Starnes J W, Cantu G, Farrar R P, Kehrer J P. Skeletal muscle lipid peroxidation in exercised and food-restricted rats during aging.  J Appl Physiol. 1989;  67 69-75
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 51 Sumida S, Doi T, Sakurai M, Yoshioka Y, Okamura K. Effect of a single bout of exercise and β-carotene supplementation on the urinary excretion of 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine in humans.  Free Radic Res. 1997;  27 607-618
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 52 Tiidus P M, Houston M E. Vitamin E status and response to exercise training.  Sports Med. 1995;  20 12-23
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 53 Tipton K D, Wolfe R R. Exercise-induced changes in protein metabolism.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1998;  162 377-378
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 54 Viguie C A, Frei B, Shigenaga M K, Ames B N, Packer L, Brooks G A. Antioxidant status and indexes of oxidative stress during consecutive days of exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1993;  75 566-572
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 55 Zerba E, Komorowski T E, Faulkner J A. Free radical injury to skeletal muscles of young, adult, and old mice.  Am J Physiol. 1990;  258 435
    PubMedGoogle Scholar

Dr. Maria Cristina Polidori

Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics

Via Eugubina, 42

06122 Perugia

Italy

Phone: + 39 (75) 5855822

Fax: + 39 (75) 5730259

Email: geriat@unipg.it

      >