ABSTRACT
The present study aims to investigate the effects of exhaustive running and different doses of short-term garlic supplementation on total antioxidant capacity [TAC] and Malondialdehyde [MDA] in during rest and exercise induced exhaustion in male soccer players. Thirty male football players [Average age: 20.8 +/- 1.45 y; maximum oxygen intake 67.2 +/- 5.4 ml/kg/min and body mass index 21.5 +/- 1.34 kg/m2] were divided randomly into three homogenous groups, the placebo group and the 2 garlic supplementation groups given two dosages [1200 and 2400 mg/day]. The first and second blood samples were taken in the basic state and after the Shuttle Run test and the third and fourth samples were taken after supplementation, in the basic state and after test. The parameters were then analyzed using one-way ANOVA, with a significance level of a=0.05. Exhaustive running significantly decreased TAC and increased MDA level in the blood serum of male football players. On the other hand, garlic supplementation increased TAC [P<0.01] and decreased MDA [P<0.01] in the basic state. Moreover, supplementation hindered significant increase in the level of MDA [P<0.05] in male football players after the test but it failed to stop the decrease in TAC [P<0.05] level. Furthermore, the decrease of TAC level in supplementation group was significantly [P<0.05] less than in the placebo group. Short-term garlic extract supplementation may increase TAC and MDA in male football players in the basic state and hinder the fall in the total antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress after vigorous exercises. On the other hand, neither dosages of 1200 nor 2400 mg/day of garlic extract showed any effects on TAC or MDA in the groups of players investigated