The effect of zinc supplementationon antioxidant activity of junior wrestlers during exercise

- 54 -8. SUMMARYThis study was done to measure effect of zinc supplementation to producefree radicals and antioxidant system on active wrestling athletes.This study was done by 20 same age level young male wrestlers and 20sedentary male, totally 40, participants.Participants were divided in to four groups as randomly.Group1: Zinc supplemented athletes group: for this group; applied 8 weeksoral zinc sulphate (5 mg/kg/day).Group 2: Nonpractice athletic group: for this group; continued normallytraining programme, but don?t receive zinc sulphate.Group 3: Zinc supplemented sedentary group: for this group; applied 8weeks oral zinc sulphate (5 mg/kg/day).Group 4: Nonpractice sedentary group: as the only control groupAt the beginning of the this study and at the end of 8 weeks applications5?cc blood samples were taken from all participants. Serum MDA, GSH, GPx,SOD (with ELISA colorimetric method) and zinc (with colorimetric method)was evaluated in blood samples.Post-test MDA levels of zinc groups (group 1 and 3) significantlydecrased compared to pre-test serum MDA levels (P < 0,01). On the contraryGSH, GPx, SOD ve zinc scores of zinc groups significantly increased at the endof the study (p < 0,01). It was not different that MDA, GSH, GPx, SOD and zincscores of sedantary groups (group 2 and 4) were measured at the beggining of thestudy and at the end of the study.- 55 -At the beginning of the study MDA parameters did not show anydifferences between groups (p > 0,05). At the end of the study the lowest MDAlevel was determined in zinc application groups (group 1 and 3) (p < 0,01). Afterstudy non-practice athletic group?s MDA level was lower than non-practicesedentary group (group 4) (p < 0,01).There were no differences among all groups in MDA, GSH, GPx, SODand zinc level at the beginning. Maximum serum MDA, GSH, GPx, SOD andzinc levels were seen in group 1 and 3 (zinc supplemented group) at the end of thestudy (p < 0.01), in contrast to Nonpractice groups?(group 2 and 4).Findings at the end of the this study showed that the zinc supplementationinhibted free radicals production by activating antioxidant system.Consequently zinc supplementation to athletes in pharmachological dosemay have benfical effects on athletic health and performance.