A Comparison of Glutathione and Malondialdehyde Concentrations in Athletes Engaged in Certain Sports

Abstract

Sports stimulate the body to adapt to physical activity, causing biochemical and functional metabolic changes in various systems and organs of the body due to exercise. Antioxidants and free radicals affect the biological activity of living organisms, leading to physiological changes in all body systems due to exercise. This study, conducted from December 2023 to February 2024, included 120 blood samples from male basketball (40), football (40), and volleyball (40) players ages 18-27 years, from the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at Tikrit University. Blood samples were collected ten minutes before and ten minutes after 70 minutes of exercise on the same day. The study found no significant differences in glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations before and after exercise among the groups. The findings suggest that the type of sport (football, basketball, or volleyball) with an anaerobic system does not significantly affect antioxidant and fat peroxidation levels, though slight variations due to increased lactic acid in muscles were noted, leading to muscle fatigue and minor changes in GSH and MDA concentrations.