The relationship between blood antioxidant enzyme levels and genotype in athletes training at high altitudes.

Objectives: Although acute exhaustive exercise increases oxidative stress, regular exercise programs strengthen oxidant protection. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high altitude training on malondialdehyde (MDA) as index of lipid peroxidation. We also aimed to investigate the incidence of gene polymorphism of the manganese superoxidedismutase (Mn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase-1 (GSH-Px1) and catalase (CAT) enzymes. Materials and Methods: Thirty male subjects between the ages of 20 to 25 trained at a high altitude camp at 2750 meters for 10 days. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: athletic (n=10), sedentary (n=10), and sedentary control (n=10). While the athletic and sedentary groups performed aerobic exercise at high altitude, the sedentary control group did not partake in any physical exercise. Blood samples were obtained pre-exercise, post-exercise, before ascent, on the 1st, 5th and 10th days at high altitude, and after descent. Results: There were significant statistical difference in CAT and GSH-Px1 activity prior to ascent, at high altitude and on the1st, 5th, and 10th days at high altitude and after descent (p<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences between groups with respect to plasma MDA and SOD levels(p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in terms of CAT genotype between groups (p<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences for Mn-SOD and GSH-Px1 genotype among the groups of before ascent, at high altitude, on the 1st, 5th and 10th days at high altitude and after descent (p>0.05). For both genes, we did observe a statistically significant difference for CAT allele (p<0.01). However, there were no differences between the groups in terms of allele frequency. Conclusion: We concluded that high altitudemight play a role in the gene activity of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes.