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Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation Promotes Erythrocyte Antioxidant Defense and Reduces Protein Nitrosative Damage in Male Athletes

  • Original Article
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Lipids

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of long-term docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) dietary supplementation on the erythrocyte fatty acid profile and oxidative balance in soccer players after training and acute exercise. Fifteen volunteer male athletes (age 20.0 ± 0.5 years) were randomly assigned to a placebo group that consumed an almond-based beverage (n = 6), or to an experimental group that consumed the same beverage enriched with DHA (n = 9) for 8 weeks. Blood samples were taken in resting conditions at the beginning and after 8 weeks of nutritional intervention and training in resting and in post-exercise conditions. Oxidative damage markers (malonyldialdehyde, carbonyl and nitrotyrosine indexes) and the activity and protein level of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and peroxidase) were assessed. The results showed that training increased antioxidant enzyme activities in erythrocytes. The experimental beverage increased DHA from 34.0 ± 3.6 to 43.0 ± 3.6 nmol/109 erythrocytes. DHA supplementation increased the catalytic activity of superoxide dismutase from 1.48 ± 0.40 to 10.5 ± 0.35 pkat/109 erythrocytes, and brought about a reduction in peroxidative damage induced by training or exercise. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with DHA changed the erythrocyte membrane composition, provided antioxidant defense and reduced protein peroxidative damage in the red blood cells of professional athletes after an 8-week training season and acute exercise.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BHA:

Butylated hydroxyanisole

BHT:

Butylated hydroxytoluene

CAT:

Catalase

DNPH:

2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid

EDTA:

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid

FID:

Flame ionization detector

GPx:

Glutathione peroxidase

GRd:

Glutathione reductase

MCH:

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin

MCV:

Mean corpuscular volume

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acid(s)

PAGE:

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

PBS:

Phosphate buffered saline

PBMC:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cell

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid(s)

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SFA:

Saturated fatty acids

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

TBAR:

Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance

UCP:

Uncoupling protein

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Acknowledgments

Acción Estratégica en Salud del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación DPS2008-07033-C03-03, Program of Promotion of Biomedical Research and Health Sciences, Projects 11/01791, Red Predimed-RETIC RD06/0045/1004, CIBERobn CB12/03/30038 and Balearic Island Government (35/2011 and 23/2012) and FEDER funds. We hereby acknowledge the PhD grant provided by the University of the Balearic Islands.

We would like to thank the soccer players involved in the study for their committed participation. The excellent medical assistance of Bartomeu Munar and RCD Mallorca is appreciated.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratori de Ciències de l’Activitat Física, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Crtra. Valldemossa, km 7.5, 07122, Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain

    M. Martorell, X. Capó, Mdel M. Bibiloni, A. Sureda, A. Mestre-Alfaro, J. M. Batle, I. Llompart, J. A. Tur & A. Pons

  2. CIBER, CB12/03/30038 Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición, CIBERobn, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain

    M. Martorell, X. Capó, Mdel M. Bibiloni, A. Sureda, A. Mestre-Alfaro, J. M. Batle, I. Llompart, J. A. Tur & A. Pons

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  1. M. Martorell
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Martorell, M., Capó, X., Bibiloni, M.M. et al. Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation Promotes Erythrocyte Antioxidant Defense and Reduces Protein Nitrosative Damage in Male Athletes. Lipids 50, 131–148 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-014-3976-6

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