The effect of exercise on oxidative stress in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient individuals was investigated.
Materials and methods: Nine G6PD-deficient males and nine males with normal G6PD activity were selected and requested to run at approximately 75% their maximum heart rate for 45 min. Blood samples were collected prior to and immediately after exercise. Several hematological parameters, reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), lipid hydroperoxides, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyls, catalase and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured in the blood before and after each exercise bout.
Results: GSH was significantly (more than two-fold) higher in the control group compared to the G6PD-deficient group at baseline, whereas GSSG, GSH/GSSG and lipid hydroperoxides were not different between the two groups. Exercise did not affect the levels of any oxidative stress marker. There was no evidence of Heinz body formation neither at rest nor after exercise in either group. Exercise of moderate intensity and duration did not result in an increase of blood oxidative-stress biomarkers in G6PD-deficient males nor in matched controls. It appears that G6PD-deficient individuals may exercise without experiencing a rise in oxidative stress at an exercise intensity approximately 75% of their maximum heart rate.