Glutathione (L-y-glutamyl-L-cysteinylgycine) is one of the major antioxidants in the body. The present study investigated blood glutathione responses to 75-80% of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) for 30 minutes in females during their follicular (F) and luteal phases (L). Resting estradiol level was 2.7 fold higher in luteal phase than in the follicular phase (F = 54.4±12.0, L = 147.2±25.5 pgml1, p<0.002). Concentrations of blood total (TGSH) and reduced glutathione (GSH) decreased significantly after 75-80% of VO2max for 30 minutes in both phases of the menstrual cycle. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations were similar before exercise (F = 0.19±0.01, L = 0.18±0.01 mM) and increased significantly after exercise in both phases of the menstrual cycle (F = 0.21±0.02, L = 0.23±0.01 mM). These results suggest that the menstrual cycle phase did not influence glutathione responses to exercise. This type of exercise did cause perturbation of blood glutathione status. It suggests that female subjects were under exercise-induced oxidative stress when exercising at 75-80% VO2max for 30 minutes.
Glutathione (L-y-glutamyl-L-cysteinylgycine) is one of the major antioxidants in the body. The present study investigated blood glutathione responses to 75-80% of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) for 30 minutes in females during their follicular (F) and luteal phases (L). Resting estradiol level was 2.7 fold higher in luteal phase than in the follicular phase (F = 54.4±12.0, L = 147.2±25.5 pgml1, p<0.002). Concentrations of blood total (TGSH) and reduced glutathione (GSH) decreased significantly after 75-80% of VO2max for 30 minutes in both phases of the menstrual cycle. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations were similar before exercise (F = 0.19±0.01, L = 0.18±0.01 mM) and increased significantly after exercise in both phases of the menstrual cycle (F = 0.21±0.02, L = 0.23±0.01 mM). These results suggest that the menstrual cycle phase did not influence glutathione responses to exercise. This type of exercise did cause perturbation of blood glutathione status. It suggests that female subjects were under exercise-induced oxidative stress when exercising at 75-80% VO2max for 30 minutes.