Influences of intermittent anaerobic exercise program on physical fitness and plasma lactate, oxidant and anti-oxidant status in smokers and non-smokers judo players

There is evidence of smoking's negative impact and physical activity's positive impact on long-term health. However, evidences regarding the association between smoking and exercise activity and the independent effects of these factors on antioxidant defense are lacking. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between smoking and the intermittent anaerobic exercise on the physical fitness, oxidant and antioxidant status in Judo player. Twenty male Judo player student from Department of Physical Education Al Azhar University were enrolled in the study. They were of 2 groups, Non-smokers [NS] and smokers [SM]. Both groups were subjected to regular Judo training program [2 hours/day, 3 sessions/week for 12 weeks]. Also, both groups were subjected to an effort test [running of submaximal intensity until exhaustion] and record of the maximum oxygen capacity [VO[2] max] using an ergometric bicycle. Heart rate [HR], mean arterial blood pressure [MBP] were recorded and blood samples were taken pre and post-effort test for determination of malondialdehyde [MDA],total antioxidant capacity [TAC], uric acid [Ua] and lactate [La] in the plasma. Also the time to exhaustion was recorded during the effort test. These measures were performed pre and post the training program. At rest the pre-program data of SM showed significantly higher H.R., and plasma MDA,and significantly lower TAC with tendency to increase in MBP and La levels, and decrease in VO2max, and Ua levels compared to NS. Before program and in response to acute exercise SM showed significantly higher H.R, MDA and La levels with significantly lower TAC, Ua and time to exhaustion compared to NS. On the other hand, after the program and in response to acute exercise, SM showed more pronounced significantly higher HR. MBP, MDA and La with significantly lower VO[2] max, time to exhaustion and TAC with insignificant changes in the Ua compared to the NS that showed significant increase in the Ua levels with insignificant changes in the MDA, TAC and the La levels in response to acute exercise. In response to the training program, SM showed significantly higher HR, MBP, MDA and La levels, with significantly lower VO[2] max, time to exhaustion, and TAC, and insignificant changes in the Ua levels compared to NS. We conclude that cigarette smoking has a significant detrimental effects on cardiovascular fitness, physical endurance, TAC and lipid peroxidation that all worsened by the intermittent anaerobic exercise. On the contrary, this type of training is beneficial in nonsmokers. Also we demonstrated that smoking prevent the beneficial effects of exercise, so smoking should be avoided in Judo players. Smokers should be given strong encouragement to stop smoking and to improve physical fitness

Effect of chromium deficiency and supplementation on some aspects of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in male albino rats

In this work, thirty adult male albino rats were used to study the effect of chromium deficiency and supplementation on carbohydrates and lipid metabolism. Rats were divided into three equal groups control, chromium deficient and chromium supplemented. Rats of the first group were fed on normal diet, rats of the second group were fed on a chromium deficient diet. Rats of the third group were fed on the same chromium deficient diet but were supplemented with oral chromium picolinate [90 |-l micro gm / kg body weight] daily for forty five days. At the end of the experimental period [45 days] plasma glucose, insulin serum triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL and HDL were determined. The study showed that chromium deficiency led to a significant increase in plasma glucose level, and insulin with insignificant changes in serum triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL and LDL as compared to control group. The study showed also that chromium supplementation led to an insignificant increase in serum glucose and insulin with significant decrease in serum triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL and a significant increase in serum HDL

Influence of two training programs of different intensity on immuno-inflammatory responses and adaptation in female athletes performing strenuous exercise

Chronic exhaustive exercise is associated by increase rate of illnesses, muscle soreness and may induce immunosuppression. However there are only few data on the immune-inflammatory response to moderate intensity aerobic exercise as an adapting program in female athletes subjected to prolonged exhaustive exercises. 20 female students from El-Gezera Faculty of Sports Education performing strenuous exercises during practical lessons. They were divided into 2 groups: group A, performed a strenuous aerobic exercise program,one session of 60 min / day, 3 days / week, for 8 weeks. Group B, performed a moderate intensity aerobic program, one session of 60 min/day, 3 days/week for 8 weeks. Both group were subjected to an effort test [15 min. running], before and after doing the programs. Radial pulse, mean arterial blood pressure [MBP] were recorded and blood samples were taken pre and post-effort test, for determination of complete blood count, plasma interleukin-6 [IL-6] and creatine kinase [CK]. Also, the performance level for [ballet phrase] was measured pre and post effort. At base line, both groups showed significant increase in all parameters in response to acute exercise [i-e effort test], except the performance score. After doing the program, the moderate exercise attenuated the response to acute exercise of radial pulse, MBP, plasma IL-6 and CK, and increased the performance level compared to both pre-program values and to strenuous exercise group. At base line the haematological parameters showed insignificant changes between the two groups. After performing the program, both group showed significant increase in the mean corpuscular volume [MCV] and the total leucocytic count. However, leucocytosis was attributed to neutrophilia, with increased band-to-segmented neutrophil ratio, in strenuous exercise group. This together with decreased lymphocytes suggesting inflammatory response and immunosuppressive effect of exhaustive exercise. On the other hand, leucocytosis was attributed to increased lymphocytes in moderate exercise group, suggesting improvement of immunity by regular exercise of moderate intensity. The CK levels were positively correlated to neutrophilia and elevated IL-6 levels in strenuous exercise group, but did not correlated to IL-6 in moderate exercise group. Our result demonstrated that muscle damage is closely related to the intensity of exercise and improved by regular moderate aerobic exercise. However, IL-6 did not necessarily reflect muscle damage but may indicate inflammatory response, as it follow CK and neutraphilia by strenuous exercise only, but follow neutrophils response in both types of exercise. In addition body immunity, physical fitness and performance level are negatively affected by prolonged exhaustive exercise, and they improved by regular moderate exercise program. So coaches must gauge training programs to optimize not only physical function, but also immune responses.We recommend further studies with different ages and sex groups and under different physiological conditions