Acute effects of resistance exercise and intermittent intense aerobic exercise on blood cell count and oxidative stress in trained middle-aged women

• Published in: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research Vol. 45; no. 12; pp. 1172 - 1182
• Main Authors: Cardoso, A M, Bagatini, M D, Roth, M A, Martins, C C, Rezer, J F P, Mello, F F, Lopes, L F D, Morsch, V M, Schetinger, M R C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 01.12.2012; Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica
• Subjects: Anaerobic exercise; BIOLOGY; Biomarkers - blood; Blood Cell Count; Case-Control Studies; Catalase - blood; Exercise Test; Female; Glutathione Peroxidase - blood; Humans; Immune suppression; Intermittent exercise; Lipid Peroxidation - physiology; MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL; Middle Aged; Middle-aged women; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Reactive Oxygen Species - blood; Resistance Training; Short Communication; Superoxide Dismutase - blood; Immune suppression; Oxidative stress; Middle-aged women; Intermittent exercise; Anaerobic exercise
• ISSN: 0100-879X; 1414-431X; 1414-431X; 0100-879X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0100-879X2012007500166

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of an intermittent intense aerobic exercise session and a resistance exercise session on blood cell counts and oxidative stress parameters in middle-aged women. Thirty-four women were selected and divided into three groups: RE group (performing 60 min of resistance exercises, N = 12), spinning group (performing 60 min of spinning, N = 12), and control group (not exercising regularly, N = 10). In both exercise groups, lymphocytes and monocytes decreased after 1-h recuperation (post-exercise) compared to immediately after exercise (P < 0.05). Immediately after exercise, in both exercised groups, a significant increase in TBARS (from 16.5 ± 2 to 25 ± 2 for the spinning group and from 18.6 ± 1 to 28.2 ± 3 nmol MDA/mL serum for the RE group) and protein carbonyl (from 1.0 ± 0.3 to 1.6 ± 0.2 for the spinning group and from 0.9 ± 0.2 to 1.5 ± 0.2 nmol/mg protein for the RE group) was observed (P < 0.05). A decrease in antioxidant activities (non-protein sulfhydryl, superoxide dismutase, catalase) was also demonstrated with a negative correlation between damage markers and antioxidant body defenses (P < 0.05). These results indicate that an acute bout of intermittent or anaerobic exercise induces immune suppression and increases the production of reactive oxygen species, causing oxidative stress in middle-aged and trained women. Furthermore, we demonstrated that trained women show improved antioxidant capacity and lower oxidative damage than sedentary ones, demonstrating the benefits of chronic regular physical activity.