Moderate physical exercise induces the oxidation of human blood protein thiols

Life Sci. 2002 Mar 15;70(17):2039-46. doi: 10.1016/s0024-3205(02)01490-x.

Abstract

Exercise is known to induce the oxidation of blood low-molecular-weight (LMW) thiols such as reduced glutathione (GSH). We previously reported that full-marathon running induced a decrease in human plasma levels of protein-bound sulfhydryl groups (p-SHs). Moderate exercise, a 30-min running at the intensity of the individual ventilatory threshold, performed by untrained healthy females caused a significant decrease in erythrocyte levels of p-SHs (mostly hemoglobin cysteine residues) and LMW thiols, but their levels returned to each baseline by 2 h. No significant change in plasma LMW thiols was observed. However, plasma levels of p-SHs significantly decreased after running and remained unchanged after 24 h. These results suggest that moderate exercise causes the oxidation of blood thiols, especially protein-bound thiols.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anaerobic Threshold / physiology
  • Blood Proteins / metabolism*
  • Creatine Kinase / blood
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Molecular Weight
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / metabolism*

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Creatine Kinase