Acute Exercise Induced Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Changes

Cells continuously produce free radicals and ROS as part of metabolic processes. These free radicals are neutralized by an elaborate antioxidant defense system consisting of enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and numerous non-enzymatic antioxidants, including vitamins A, E and C, glutathione, ubiquinone, and flavonoids. Exercise can cause an imbalance between ROS and antioxidants, which is referred to as oxidative stress (1). While regular exercise training is associated with numerous health benefits, it can be viewed as an intense physical stressor leading to increased oxidative cellular damage, likely due to enhanced production of ROS (2). A single bout of exercise can result in activation of several distinct systems of radical generation and may be separated into both primary (e.g., electron leakage through the mitochondria during aerobic respiration, prostanoid metabolism, catecholamines, and the enzymes xanthine oxidase and NADPH oxidase), as well as secondary sources (e.g., ACUTE EXERCISE INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS AND ANTIOXIDANT CHANGES