Sports Participation Promotes Beneficial Adaptations in the Erythrocyte Guanylate Nucleotide Pool in Male Athletes Aged 20-90 Years

• Published in: Clinical interventions in aging Vol. 18; pp. 987 - 997
• Main Authors: Pospieszna, Barbara, Kusy, Krzysztof, Slominska, Ewa Maria, Ciekot-Sołtysiak, Monika, Zieliński, Jacek
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2023; Dove; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Aged; Aging; Athletes; endurance; Erythrocytes; Erythrocytes - metabolism; gec; gtp; Guanine Nucleotides - metabolism; Guanosine - metabolism; guanosine triphosphate; Guanosine Triphosphate - metabolism; guanylate energy charge; Health aspects; Humans; Male; master athletes; Men; Nucleotides; Nucleotides - metabolism; Original Research; Physiological aspects; Poland; purine metabolites; Sports; sprint; Poland; guanylate energy charge; GTP; GEC; sprint; master athletes; guanosine triphosphate; endurance; purine metabolites
• ISSN: 1178-1998; 1176-9092; 1178-1998
• DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S406555

The guanine nucleotide pool (GTP, guanosine-5'-triphosphate; GDP, guanosine-5'-diphosphate, and GMP, guanosine-5'-monophosphate) is an essential energy donor in various biological processes (eg protein synthesis and gluconeogenesis) and secures several vital regulatory functions in the human body. The study aimed to predict the trends of age-related changes in erythrocyte guanine nucleotides and examine whether competitive sport and related physical training promote beneficial adaptations in erythrocyte guanylate concentrations. The study included 86 elite endurance runners (EN) aged 20-81 years, 58 sprint-trained athletes (SP) aged 21-90 years, and 62 untrained individuals (CO) aged 20-68 years. The concentration of erythrocyte GTP and total guanine nucleotides (TGN) were highest in the SP group, lower in the EN group, and lowest in the CO group. Both athletic groups had higher guanylate energy charge (GEC) values than the CO group (p = 0.012). Concentrations of GTP, TGN, and GEC value significantly decreased, while GDP and GMP concentrations progressively increased with age. Such a profile of change suggests a deterioration of the GTP-related regulatory function in older individuals. Our study explicitly shows that lifelong sports participation, especially of sprint-oriented nature, allows for maintaining a higher erythrocyte guanylate pool concentration, supporting cells' energy metabolism, regulatory and transcription properties, and thus more efficient overall body functioning.