effect of exercise on urinary gamma-glutamyltransferase and protein levels in elite female karate athletes

ABSTRACT

Post exercise proteinuria and increased urinary Gamma-Glutamyl transferase [GGT] levels can be indicative of exercise-induced renal damage. The aim of this investigation is to study the effect of one session of intensive training on renal damage markers and compare their values to those 6 hours after training. In this cross-sectional study with pre- and post-test design, 10 elite volunteer female athletes were selected and participated in one training session [2 hours]. Urine samples were collected before training, one hour after training, and 6 hours after training. Urinary protein [Pr], creatinine [Cr], and GGT values were measured through laboratory methods and then Pr/Cr and GGT/Cr ratios were computed. There were significant differences between values of protein, GGT and Creatinine in the three sampling phases [P<0.05]. However, no significant differences were observed between values for GGT/Cr and Pr/Cr ratio. There were significant differences between the mean values of Creatinine, protein and GGT within pre-exercise and 1 hour post-exercise and within 1 hour post-exercise and 6 hours post-exercise [P<0.05]. It seems that a session of karate training does not result in renal damage and athletes can continue training after 6 hours