Effect of Short-Term Maximal Exercise on Biochemical Markers of Muscle Damage, Total Antioxidant Status, and Homocysteine Levels in Football Players

Purpose: Prolonged physical exercise results in transient elevations of biochemical markers of muscular damage. This study examined the effect of short-term maximal exercise on these markers, homocysteine levels (Hcy), and total antioxidant status (TAS) in trained subjects.Methods: Eighteen male football players participated in this study. Blood samples were collected 5-min before and 3-min after a 30-s Wingate test.Results: The results indicated that plasma biochemical markers of muscle injury increased significantly after the Wingate test (P<0.05). Moreover,significant increase of white blood Cells and their main subpopulations (i.e.monocytes, neutrophiles, and ymphocytes) (P<0.001) has been observed.Likewise, uric acid,total bilirubin,and TAS increased significantly after exercise (P<0.05). However, Hcy levels were unaffected by the Wingate test (for 3-min post-exercise measurement).Conclusions: Short-term maximal exercise (e.g. 30-s Wingate test) is of sufficient intensity and duration to increase markers of muscle damage, and TAS; but not Hcy levels. Increases in the selected enzymes probably come primarily from muscle damage, rather than liver damage. Moreover, increase of TAS confirms the Wingate test induced oxidative stress.