BIOMARKERS OF LIPID PEROXIDATION AND ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY IN ELITE LEVEL MALE ALPINE SKI RACERS

Abstract

396 The goal of this field study was to assess biomarkers of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity in highly trained athletes performing routine anaerobic training. Fifteen members of the US Men's Alpine Ski Team (age: 22.6 ± 2.6 yrs, height: 181.1 ± 4.2 cm, weight: 89.0 ± 6.6 kg), attending a 10 day summer training camp at Mt. Hood, Oregon, volunteered to participate in this investigation. Blood draws were collected at three times during the camp; 1) baseline (BASE), 2) following two days of dry-land training (DRY), and 3) after four days of on-snow skiing (SNOW). Samples were assayed for Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA). MDA assays were performed using third derivative spectrophotometry with N-methyl-2-phenylindole as a color indicator. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant differences across time for MDA measures (p > .25). However, significant differences were detected for TEAC (p < .001). Post hoc analyses indicated that TEAC was significantly elevated at DRY (X = 2.30 ± .16 mmol/L) when compared to either BASE (X = 1.90 ± .17 mmol/L) or SNOW (X = 1.92 ± .12 mmol/L). The elevation in TEAC at DRY may have been due to an increase in uric acid concentration following high intensity resistive training. Results suggest that highly trained skiers may maintain sufficient antioxidant capacity and not experience excessive levels of lipid peroxidation during predominantly anaerobic training.