Assessment of oxidative stress markers and prostaglandins after chronic training of triathletes

The present study established the pattern of isoprostanes (IsoPs) and prostaglandins metabolites (PGMs) in urine after triathlon training. Fifteen Caucasian triathletes – 5 women and 10 men – performed 793 and 1603 Objective Load Scales, respectively. The optimization of urine hydrolysis conditions, concerning to the type of buffer, the units of hydrolytic enzyme added, and the pH, allowed precise quantification of these metabolites by UPLC–MS/MS, avoiding the under-estimation of their concentrations that occurred in previous studies. Their rate of conjugation ranged between 36% and 100%. This implies significant importance since it supposes non-detection of some IsoPs and PGMs totally conjugated with glucuronic acid developed by other previous methodologies. Among the 13 compounds analyzed, this assay detected and characterized 4 IsoPs and 3 PGMs in the triathletes’ urine. The PGMs tetranor-PGEM and 11β-PGF2α and the IsoP 8-iso-PGF2α, showed lower concentrations after the training program, whereas the PGMs 6-keto-PGF1α increased (vascular PGI2 metabolite). In fact, their pattern in the triathletes’ urine indicated that their variation may have been related with the physical activity. Due to its high variation, 6-keto PGF1α stood out as a useful marker of the vasodilation and inhibition of the platelet aggregation of the PGI2 linked to the physical exercise. The data obtained provided a global picture of changes in lipid peroxidation and vascular events as a consequence of chronic exercise.

► The urinary pattern of eicosanoids is modulated by the physical activity.
► The hydrolysis step is critical to avoid the underestimation of eicosanoids.
► 6-Keto PGF1α could be highlighted as prostaglandin marker linked to the physical exercise.