Peripheral lymphocyte DNA damage and oxidative status in football players after a three-day football tournament.

OBJECTIVE: Regular physical activity is well known to play a cardioprotective role. The objective of this study was to investigate peripheral lymphocyte DNA damage and oxidative status in adult football players a three-day football tournament. METHODS: Twenty-five adult male football players and 25 sedentary male subjects were enrolled in the present study. Plasma total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and the oxidative stress index (OSI) were determined. Peripheral lymphocyte DNA damage was determined using an alkaline comet assay. RESULTS: Plasma TOS, OSI and peripheral lymphocyte DNA damage were significantly lower in the adult football players than in the sedentary subjects (all: p<0.001), while TAS was significantly higher in the football players (p<0.001). The plasma TAS levels were inversely correlated with TOS, OSI and peripheral lymphocyte DNA damage (r = -0.683, p<0.001; r = -0.909, p<0.001; r = -0.608, p<0.001; respectively) in the adult football players. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that physical activity is associated with increased antioxidant capacity and decreased oxidative stress. Such conditions are important for a healthy life. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying this association.

The effects of selenium and vitamin E on lung tissue in rats with sepsis.

PURPOSE: In this study we examined the ability of selenium and vitamin E to prevent sepsis-induced changes in lung tissue. METHODS: Fifty rats were divided into five groups: Group 1: Control group; Group 2: Sepsis group. In this group only cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) was performed. Group 3: Selenium group. An intraperitoneal dose of 100 µg selenium was given for the first two days followed by a daily dose of 40 µg for the next five days. CLP was performed the following day. Group 4: Selenium and vitamin E group. In addition to selenium, vitamin E was given intramuscularly in a dose of 250 mg/kg/day for seven days. CLP was performed the following day. Group 5: Vitamin E group. Vitamin E was given intramuscularly in a dose of 250 mg/kg/day for seven days. CLP was performed the following day. RESULTS: There were significant differences between Group 2 and all other groups in terms of blood gas values (pH, pCO2, SaO2), and leukocyte, C-reactive protein (CRP) and glutathione peroxidase levels (p < 0.005). There was no statistically significant difference between groups 3, 4 and 5 in terms of histopathological changes in lung tissue (p > 0.05), but all groups were significantly different compared with Group 2 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sepsis-induced lung tissue damage can be reduced or prevented by pre-treatment with of selenium and/or vitamin E in a rat model.