Strenuous exercise-induced change in redox state of human serum albumin during intensive kendo training

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of human serum albumin (HSA) using an ion-exchange (DEAE-form) column shows three components: The principal component corresponds to human mercaptalbumin (HMA); the secondary to nonmercaptalbumin (HNA), having mixed disulfide with cystine (HNA[Cys]), or oxidized glutathione (HNA[Glut]); and the tertiary to HNA, oxidized more highly than mixed disulfide. The purpose of the present study is to clarify the effects of strenuous exercise load on HMAreversible arrowrHNA conversion (i.e., dynamic change in redox state) of HSA from elite kendoathletes ( n=30; 20.0+/-1.1 years old). They participated in an intensive kendo training camp for 5 d. The mean value for the HMA fraction ((f) over bar [HMA]) of kendo athletes after camp (62.8+/-2.4%) was significantly lower than before camp (71.9+/-3.7%) ( p<0.0005). In contrast, the mean value for f <(f)over bar>(HNA-1) (i.e., (f) over bar [HNA(Cys) and HNA(Glut)]) after camp (34.2+/-2.1%) was significantly higher than before camp (25.7+/-3.7%) (p<0.0005). These results suggested that strenuous physical exercise markedly increased the oxidized albumin level in extracellular fluids during the intensive training camp.