Spinning, Oxidative Damage and Hemolysis in Athletes and Trained Middle-Aged Women

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate and confirm the link between hemolysis and oxidative damage in subjects who practice spinning including middle-aged women.

Twelve healthy and physically active volunteers: 7 males, 40 ± 5 years old and 5 females, 40 ± 5 years old, trained subjects, not engaged in competitive sports, were enrolled and studied. Measurement of malonyldialdehyde is widely used as an indicator of lipid peroxidation. The measurement of the hemolysis assays was done. The state of RBCs membrane were determined through a typical histological method defined May-Grunwald from Merck (Germany).

As regards the middle-aged women thirty-four healthy women aged 45 to 55 years were selected for this study. Lipid peroxidation was estimated by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in serum samples.

The collected data show that there are significant differences at least 60 min after training: in malonyldialdehyde value (0.12 ± 0.05 nmol/ml) and in malonyldialdehyde value with 2, 2’-azobis (2 amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (0.22 ± 0.05 nmol/ml), in hemolysis data up to both 80 min (oxidative lysis) and 120 min (2, 2’ azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride lysis) confirmed by microscopical analysis.

Immediately after spinning a significant increase in TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) (from 16.5 ± 2 to 25 ± 2 nmol MDA/mL serum) was observed (p < 0.05) compared to both those at rest and control group (not regularly exercised).

The exercise (at least after 60 min) applied to tested athletes, causes in them intra-vascular hemolysis (120 min hemolysis data).

This process is associated with in vivo alterations in RBC membranes similar to those found in inherited anemic diseases.

We hypothesize these structural and possibly also functional alterations of the RBCs are result of an increased susceptibility of the cells to physical and/or chemical stress rather than compression of capillaries during the foot strike as the primary contributor to exercise related hemolysis.

Finally, our data comparing trained and sedentary women allow us to conclude that women engaged in spinning exercise programs highlighting the benefits of regular physical activity in this population.