Table 2 Immune function and oxidative stress
Study | Participants | Measure/s | Design | Evidence quality | Major findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nieman et al.[30] | 31 athletes (9 females and 22 males) who finished a 160 km ultramarathon | SIgA secretion rate, Incidence of post-race URTI | Cohort study | Low | Female athletes had lower sIgA secretion rates than males both pre (358 ± 52 µg/min compared to 560 ± 38 µg/min, respectively, p = 0.011)- and post-race (163 ± 23 µg/min compared to 293 ± 39 µg/min, respectively, p = 0.008). No sex difference in post-race URTI incidence |
Mastaloudis et al.[31] | 22 athletes (11 females and 11 males) who completed a 50 km ultramarathon. Age 39 ± 2.5 years | Percentage of cells with DNA damage (comet assay) | RCT – double blinded | High | Females had higher levels of DNA damage post-race (gender × treatment × time interaction (p < 0.01) Females taking AO had 62% fewer cells with DNA damage 24 h post-race compared with placebo (p < 0.0008). No significant effect on males |
Mastaloudis et al.[32] | Same subjects as study above | Plasma LDH and CK, Hamstrings and quadriceps MVC | RCT – double blinded | High | LDH and CK increased after the race – there was no effect of sex or AO use after correction for lean body mass. No sex differences or effect of AO on relative loss of muscle strength post-race |
Mastaloudis et al.[33] | Same subjects as study above | Plasma F2-IsoPs (marker of lipid peroxidation), Plasma CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 | RCT – double blinded | High | Plasma F2-IsoPs increased only in placebo group (28 ± 2 to 41 ± 3 pg/ml, p < .0001) In placebo group, females’ F2IsoP levels returned to normal within 2 h, whereas males’ remained elevated for 6 days post-race (gender x treatment interaction, p < 0.03). Inflammatory markers increased, regardless of sex or treatment group |
Miyata et al.[34] | 95 athletes (16 females and 79 males) | Urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, plasma AST, CPK, myoglobin | Cohort study | Low | No sex differences in markers of oxidative stress, or antioxidant repair systems |
Guerrero et al.[35] | 32 athletes (13 females and 19 males) | CG (marker of protein peroxidation), MDA (marker of lipid peroxidation), GR and GPx (AO enzymes) | Cohort study | Low | 48 h post-race: MDA levels were significantly higher in males (p < 0.05), whereas CG levels were significantly higher in females (p < 0.05). No sex difference in GR or GPx |