Attenuation of short-term increased oxidative stress during martial arts competitions, and benefits of micronutrients for martial art athletes

Abstract

Interest and participation in competitive Martial Arts such as Taekwondo, Karate, Kung Fu, Aikido, and Tai Chi is growing in children, adolescent as well as in adults in the USA and worldwide. Competitive Martial Arts require daily training weeks and sometimes, months prior to the start of a competition or tournament. The training period could be for a few hours daily over a period of one to six months with one or two days for every one week for rest and recovery. The types and extents of injuries after competition depend upon the form of Martial Arts and the type of physical contact. They include muscle, joint, head and neck, groin, upper and lower extremities, and soft tissues. Some acute injuries can be taken care of at home and the injured may recover quickly. Some injuries may require hospitalization and even surgery; while others may take longer period to recover and require stoppage in training. The training involves daily exercises during which moderate levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced. ROS activates a transcriptional factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2) which enhances the levels of antioxidant enzymes; and thereby, reduces oxidative stress. Because of this observation, some investigators have suggested that supplementation with micronutrient and antioxidant compounds is not necessary for reducing injuries and improving the rate of healing from injury. Appropriate diet recommended for Martial Arts athletes are sufficient to reduce oxidative damage and protect against injuries that occur during Martial Arts competitions. The use of a single antioxidant in reducing oxidative stress has produced inconsistent results in reducing the markers of oxidative stress. The limitations of such an approach are briefly discussed. This review has proposed a mixture of micronutrients which may reduce oxidative stress and improve performance in Martial Arts competitions. In addition, some beneficial effects of Martial Arts are also described.