Short-Duration High-Intensity Exercise Impacts Oxidant and Antioxidant Markers in Elite Military Pentathlon Athletes with Sex-Based Variations

Abstract

Purpose

The military pentathlon (MP) obstacle run (OR) is a high-intensity, short-duration exercise that mimics battlefield movements. Despite its growing relevance, research on its impact on oxidative stress (OS) is limited. This study evaluated the effects of the OR on OS and cell damage in world-class MP athletes, evaluating potential sex-based differences.

Methods

In this cross-sectional observational study, nine male and seven female athletes from the a MP National Team provided blood samples prior to exercise, immediately after, and 20 h post-exercise. We measured protein carbonylation (PC; by measuring carbonyl groups), lipid peroxidation (LP; by using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay), and antioxidant markers such as magnesium, urate, thiol content and total antioxidant capacity (TAC).

Results

PC increased after exercise (+21%; P < 0.05), with slower recovery in women. Females maintained elevated PC and LP levels during recovery, indicating greater susceptibility to OR-induced cell damage, as evidenced by higher increases in myoglobin (MB) and creatine kinase (CK). In fact, elevated pre-exercise PC correlated with increased post-exercise CK and MB, potentially suggesting a OS-induced muscle damage. All antioxidant markers, except thiol content in men, increased after exercise.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that the OR is a effective model of short-duration high-intensity exercise for investigating OS. The OR triggered oxidative damage, muscle microinjury, and stimulated the antioxidant system, changes that were not fully recovered after a 20 h period. Furthermore, females appeared more susceptible to oxidative damage.

Keywords

Oxidative stress / High-intensity exercise / Female athlete / Sex-based analysis / Military pentathlon

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