Antioxidative Systems and Physical Exercise

Abstract

Intense physical exercise increases oxygen consumption and causes disturbances in the antioxidant balance. A rupture of this balance between antioxidant substances and the pro-oxidant ones (excess of free radicals (ROS) leads to oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an important menace to the antioxidant defense system in the cells. They can diminish the deposits of antioxidant vitamins and glutathione, making the tissues more vulnerable to oxidative damage. The objective of this study was to analyze the oxidative stress of skeletal muscle, to demonstrate the existence of effort-induced oxidative stress, through the detection of superoxide dismutase variations in racehorses, and to observe how these variations evolve with aging.