Maternal and Neonatal Evaluation of Derived Reactive Oxygen Metabolites and Biological Antioxidant Potential in Donkey Mares and Foals

Our aim was to measure the concentrations of derived reactive oxygen metabolite (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) of donkey mares and foals at delivery and to verify the protective role of the placenta against fetal oxidative stress. A total of 15 Amiata jennies with a physiological gestation length and delivery were included together with 17 foals (two twin foalings). After delivery, maternal and foal venous blood samples were collected along with blood from the artery. Circulating lactate and plasma d-ROMs and BAP were evaluated. The Wilcoxon test for paired data was applied to verify differences in d-ROMs and BAP values, while the Spearman test was used to evaluate correlations. A significantly higher d-ROMs concentration was found in jennies compared to their foals, and to the umbilical artery blood. The BAP was higher in jennies than in their foals, but no differences were observed in the umbilical artery blood. No difference was found between foals and their umbilical cord. Blood lactate was higher in foals than in their dams. Positive correlations were found between mares and umbilical cord for BAP and d-ROMs, and between mares and foals and umbilical cord for BAP. In conclusion, the placenta may be a protective factor for the fetus. As with equine foals, the antioxidant system of donkey foals does not seems to be effective at birth.

Oligomerized polyphenols in lychee fruit extract supplements may improve high-intensity exercise performance in male athletes: a pilot study

[Purpose] Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by prolonged high-intensity exercise can cause structural and functional damage. Antioxidant polyphenol supplementation, which reduces ROS levels, may improve high-intensity exercise performance. We evaluated the effect of lychee fruit extract, which contains high levels of low-molecular-weight oligomerized polyphenols, on high-intensity exercise performance.[Methods] Ten male athletes were included in an open-label trial that consisted of control and intervention phases, with a 7-day washout period between phases. The participants were administered oligomerized lychee fruit extract for seven days, whereas no intervention was given in the control phase. High-intensity intermittent exercise and the Wingate test were performed. The power output, blood lactate levels, reactive oxygen metabolite levels, biological antioxidant potential, heart rate, and rate of perceived exertion were measured.[Results] The average power output was significantly higher in the intervention phase than in the control phase (P < 0.01), while the change in blood lactate levels was significantly lower in the intervention phase than in the control phase (P < 0.05). The average heart rate was significantly higher in the intervention phase than in the control phase (P < 0.05), without changing the rate of perceived exertion. Although there was no difference in reactive oxygen metabolite levels between the phase, the change in biological antioxidant potential was larger in the intervention phase than in the control phase (P = 0.06). The Wingate test showed no significant differences between the phase.[Conclusion] Short-term loading with oligomerized lychee fruit extract may increase performance during high-intensity intermittent exercise by improving metabolism.

Potential Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Serum from Healthy Adolescents with Optimal Mediterranean Diet Adherence: Findings from DIMENU Cross-Sectional Study

During adolescence, health status is influenced by several factors, among which dietary pattern is a crucial element of lifestyle in terms of prevention and treatment of metabolic and chronic diseases. The most studied healthy dietary pattern is the Mediterranean Diet (MD), due to a combination of foods that are rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients. The aim of this study, carried out in healthy adolescents from the DIMENU study, is to assess the adherence to the MD, as well as the dietary nutrient intake and to evaluate the potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of sera from participants grouped according to the MD score. Using the KIDMED score, as the MD quality index for children and teenagers, we found that the adolescents in this study had an average adherence to the MD (6.71 ± 2.58). Adolescents were clustered into three groups based on their MD adherence. Assessment of quality by 24 h recall revealed higher intakes in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio, dietary fibers, vitamins, and total oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) in the optimal than in poor MD adherence group. We observed that dietary PUFA/SFA ratio was negatively correlated with serum C-Reactive Protein levels, and total dietary fibers were inversely correlated with Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate values, while total ORAC was directly correlated with serum glucose concentrations. Interestingly, the reactive oxygen metabolite (ROM) concentrations, determined by the ROM assay, were significantly lower in pooled sera from optimal than poor adherers. Finally, using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human macrophages, as an in vitro model of acute inflammation, we found a reduced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines upon serum treatment from adolescents with optimal respect to medium and poor MD adherence. Our results highlight the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of serum from adolescents with healthy nutrition in terms of adherence to the MD, which may have a positive impact on the prevention of chronic diseases in adulthood.

Redox Homeostasis and Metabolic Profile in Young Female Basketball Players during In-Season Training

Background: Most studies on oxidative stress markers and antioxidant levels have been conducted in male athletes, although female participation in sport has increased rapidly in the past few decades. In particular, it could be important to assess oxidative stress markers in relation to the training load because the anaerobic path becomes predominant in high-intensity actions. Methods: Ten female professional basketball players, performing five 2 h-lasting training sessions per week, and 10 sedentary control women were investigated. Capillary blood and saliva samples were collected in the morning before the training session. The antioxidant capacity and the levels of reactive oxygen metabolites on plasma were determined measuring Reactive Oxygen Metabolite and Biological Antioxidant Potential (d-ROMs and the BAP Test). Salivary cortisol was detected by using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: The antioxidant capacity (BAP value) was significantly higher in elite basketball players (21.2%; p < 0.05). Conversely, cortisol (51%; p < 0.009) and the levels of oxidative species (d-ROM, 21.9%; p < 0.05) showed a significant decrease in elite athletes.

Effects of 3-Month Astaxanthin Supplementation on Cardiac Function in Heart Failure Patients with Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction-A Pilot Study

Astaxanthin has strong antioxidant properties. We conducted a prospective pilot study on heart failure (HF) patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction to investigate improvements in cardiac function and exercise tolerance in relation to suppression of oxidative stress by 3-month astaxanthin supplementation. Oxidative stress markers—serum Diacron reactive oxygen metabolite (dROM), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), and urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentrations, LV ejection fraction (LVEF), and 6-min walk distance (6MWD) were assessed before and after 3-month astaxanthin supplementation. Finally, the data of 16 HF patients were analyzed. Following 3-month astaxanthin supplementation, dROM level decreased from 385.6 ± 82.6 U.CARR to 346.5 ± 56.9 U.CARR (p = 0.041) despite no changes in BAP and urinary 8-OHdG levels. LVEF increased from 34.1 ± 8.6% to 38.0 ± 10.0% (p = 0.031) and 6MWD increased from 393.4 ± 95.9 m to 432.8 ± 93.3 m (p = 0.023). Significant relationships were observed between percent changes in dROM level and those in LVEF. In this study, following 3-month astaxanthin supplementation, suppressed oxidative stress and improved cardiac contractility and exercise tolerance were observed in HF patients with LV systolic dysfunction. Correlation between suppression of oxidative stress and improvement of cardiac contractility suggests that suppression of oxidative stress by astaxanthin supplementation had therapeutic potential to improve cardiac functioning.

The Oxidative Stress Markers of Horses—the Comparison with Other Animals and the Influence of Exercise and Disease

Diacron-reactive oxygen metabolite (d-ROM) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) levels in the serum of horses were measured (ponies, n = 15; thoroughbred, n = 31; other full-sized horses, n = 7). The mean d-ROM levels in horses were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than those in dairy cattle (n = 25) and dogs (n = 31). However, d-ROM levels in horses were lower than the standard levels reported in humans. When d-ROM and BAP levels were plotted graphically, the points for horses with a disease (ringbone in 1 Japanese sports horse, cellulitis in 1 thoroughbred, melanoma in 1 Lipizzaner) fell outside the group of points for other (non-diseased) horses. A similar separation was seen (using data from other authors) for a horse with Rhodococcus equi, a horse following castration surgery, and a mare following delivery. These results, comparing horses, other animals, and humans, are interesting from the standpoint of comparative medicine, and they contribute to the sparse literature available on d-ROM and BAP levels in animals. Because the level of d-ROM and BAP levels were changed depending on the situation of health, those indexes are promising as indices of health in horses.