α-Tocopherol supplementation restores the reduction of erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity induced by forced training

BackgroundErythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity is closely related to free radical production. α-Tocopherol (alpha-T) is implicated with the reduction of lipid peroxidation.AimTo investigate the effect of training and alpha-T supplementation on the erythrocyte G6PD activity.MethodsBlood was obtained from 10 basketball players pre-game (group A), post-game (group B) and after 30 days on alpha-T (dl-alpha-tocopheryl-acetate, 200 mg 24 h−1 orally) supplementation pre- (group C) and post-training (group D). alpha-T and catecholamines were evaluated with HPLC methods and creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, total antioxidant status (TAS) and G6PD activity with commercial kits.ResultsTAS was increased in the groups with alpha-T addition (groups C and D). Post-exercise, TAS and G6PD activity were remarkably higher (2.10 ± 0.13 mmol l−1, 7.92 ± 1.5 U g−1 Hb, respectively) in group D than those in group B (0.92 ± 0.10 mmol l−1, 4.8 ± 1.4 U g−1 Hb, p < 0.01, respectively). G6PD activity positively correlated with TAS (r = 0.64, p < 0.001) in all the studied groups.ConclusionsSupplementation with alpha-T may protect G6PD activity from reduction induced by forced training.