The Effects of Lycopene Supplementation on Human Antioxidant Capacity after Exhaustive Exercise

Objective: To study the effect of lycopene supplementation on human serum and red blood cell antioxidant capacity after incremental load exhaustive exercise. Subjects and methods: 16 Sports Institute college students,were randomly divided into Supplement group and control group,each group of 8 people. Supplement group supplement lycopene 15 mg / d,control group students take starch placebo as the same appearance as lycopene capsule,both of the two group students continually take the capsules for four weeks. serum total SOD activity,GSH-PX activity,serum total antioxidant capacity( T-AOC),the content of MDA in serum,and erythrocyte SOD activity of two groups of subjects were detected before and after lycopene or placebo has been taken for 4 weeks. Then all the subjects were asked to perform an incremental load exhaustive exercise on an electric treadmill. The serum and red cell indices detected immediately after exhaustive exercise were the same as before exercise.Results:( 1) The serum total SOD activity and T-AOC of lycopene supplement group subjects were significantly increased( P 0. 05) in the quiet state,compared without supplementation,and they were very significantly increased( P 0. 01) compared to the control group.( 2) After an incremental load exhaustive exercise, serum T-AOC and MDA were significantly increased( P 0. 01) and GSH- PX were significantly decreased( P 0. 05) of the control group subjects; Total SOD activity both in serum and erythrocyte were very significantly increased( P 0. 01),serum T-AOC increased significantly( P 0. 05),and GSH-PX very significantly decreased( P 0. 01) in supplement group subjects after exercise.( 3) After exercise,serum total SOD activity and GSH-PX activity were respectively very significant increased( P 0. 01) and significantly increased( P 0. 05),but the serum MDA was significantly decreased( P 0. 01) in supplement group subjects,compared with the control group subjects. Conclusions:( 1) an incremental load exhaustive exercise can aggravate serum and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation in college students of sports major.( 2) Continually supplement lycopene for 4 weeks before exercise can enhance the serum and red blood cells antioxidant capacity,resist oxygen free radical attacks effectively and reduce the lipid peroxidation products that were generated during the exhaustive exercise of college students.