Effect of combined antioxidant treatment on oxidative stress, muscle damage and sport performance in female basketball players

We determined the impact of antioxidant supplementation by GE132R on sports performance, oxidative stress markers, and muscle enzymes activities in professional female basketball players. Methods. Repetitive strength, explosive power, anaerobic endurance, and agility performance were measured before/after the 45-day supplementation period. The FORT (Free Oxygen Radicals Test) and FORD analysis (Free Oxygen Radical Defense) were assessed before/after basketball specific exercise bout, at the beginning/end of observational period. The grade of muscle damage was evaluated by aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Results. After supplementation period, significant difference was not recorded regarding the basic motor skills tests. Basketball specific exercise bout induced significant increase in FORT (p < 0.05) only at the beginning of supplementation period. Both FORT and FORD significantly decreased over the observational period (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, respectively). CK and LDH were remarkably lower at the end of observational period (p < 0.05), compared to the baseline. Conclusion. Exogenous supplementation with protective nutraceuticals such as those found in GE132R, could reduce acute/chronic oxidative stress and muscle damage, but had no effect on sport performance in basketball players.