AGE-DIFFERENCES IN OXIDATIVE STRESS AND INFLAMMATION RECOVERIES FROM SHORT-DURATION HIGH-INTENSITY INTERMITTENT EXERCISE IN ELITE JUDOKAS

Resumen

Judo athletes require optimal inflammatory and oxidative stress recoveries from exercise, although differences between seniors and cadets on these physiological responses remain unknown. We aimed to evaluate the oxidative stress and inflammatory levels of elite judo athletes at rest and 15 minutes after a specific-judo test, comparing cadets (15 females) and seniors (14 females) from the Spanish National Judo Team, during acompetitive period. Blood sampling was performed before and after a 15-min passive recovery from the Special Judo Fitness Test. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by analysing hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, antioxidant capacity by estimating retinol, α-tocopherol and catalase, and inflammation through interleukin-6 (IL-6), its receptor IL-6Rα, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) and its receptor TNF-R1. The inflammatory status of elite female judo athletes was similar at rest and after effort recovery, however, TNF- α (p<0.01) and IL-6Rα (p<0.001) values were higher in seniors than in cadets. Moreover, seniors showed increased lipid peroxidation after effort recovery (p<0.01); while cadets showed similar levels before and after exercise. This fact indicates age differences in lipid peroxidation recovery (p<0.01), which might be explained by a quickly mobilization of non-enzymatic antioxidants (retinol: p<0.001, α-tocopherol: p<0.03) in cadets what should be attended during training programs.