Effect of electroacupuncture on exercise-induced oxidative stress / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Objective:It is very important that oxidative stress is estimated for us to understand a player's condition in the field of sports. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether electroacupuncture has an effect on exercise-induced oxidative stress.<BR>Methods:Ten healthy male volunteers participated in both the electroacupuncture (EA) group and the control group in a crossover design. EA at a frequency of 2 Hz and optimum intensity was performed in the subjects for 10 minutes in both the medial vastus muscles. During ergometer exercise by ramp load, respiratory metabolism including the RC point was recorded as the indication of energy metabolism. Blood was collected from the fingertips of the subjects, and then their levels of oxidative stress (d-ROMs test) and antioxidative (BAP test) were determined by using a Free Radical Analytical System (FRAS4, Wismell Instruments). Six measurements were taken;at rest, immediately after EA and following exercise, and at 20, 40, and 60 minutes following exercise.<BR>Results:The RC point was significantly prolonged in the EA group compared with the control group. The level of oxidative stress (d-ROMs test) in the control group increased significantly at 20 minutes following exercise compared with rest (before exercise) and this increase was sustained until 60 minutes after exercise. In contrast, it did not significantly change in the EA group. Whereas the antioxidative level (BAP test) in the EA group significantly increased immediately following exercise compared with rest (before exercise), it did not increase in the control group.<BR>Conclusion:These results suggest that electroacupuncture might enhance the antioxidative level (BAP test) and inhibit the level of oxidative stress (d-ROMs test) by effecting a change in respiratory metabolism. We propose that electroacupuncture might be useful for sports conditioning.