Biomarkers Part I: Biomarkers to Estimate Bioefficacy of Dietary/Supplemental Antioxidants in Sport

Excerpt

Physical exercise and sport increase the formation of free radicals and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). This leads to an imbalance in favour of pro-oxidative processes plus damage to biomolecules, namely oxidative and nitrosative stress, especially in individuals undergoing strenuous exercise. Oxidative and nitrosative stress is expressed in significantly increased generation of RONS against a sophisticated regulated enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant system, depending on the stress intensity, exposure time and frequency (Bloomer and Goldfarb 2004). It is important for athletes as well as scientists to know how oxidative stress affects health and sport performance via the intake of antioxidant-acting substances, such as vitamins, trace elements and micronutrients (Bloomer et al. 2008; Halliwell 1996; Lamprecht et al. 2009; Radak et al. 2013).

It is also of great importance to develop analytical methods that would show the biological absorption and bioavailability of supplemented micronutrients, as well as their bioactivity and effectiveness (Bloomer et al. 2008). However, it is unclear whether supplementation shows an antioxidant-acting regulatory. Therefore, oxidative and nitrosative stress markers are well-known opportunities to estimate effects in the redox biology of exercise.

In a recent report, we listed some analytical methods which are used for oxidative stress evaluation of different specimens such as cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes), serum or plasma, urine and tissue. Besides the listed analytic methods of blood, this review describes the influence of antioxidant supplementation, such as of vitamins or micronutrients, on athletes. Positive, negative or no effect of supplemented substances can be displayed on the basis of the measurement of oxidative stress and nitrosative stress markers (Lamprecht et al. 2004).