Plasma Nitric Oxide and Acute Phase Proteins after Moderate and Prolonged Exercises

Objective(s)The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO) and certain acute phase proteins(caeruloplasmin, transferrin, haptoglobin, C-reactive protein) in Nigerian subjects after short and prolonged exercises.Materials and MethodsA total of ۵۷ subjects (۳۴ males and ۲۳ females) between ages of ۱۹ and ۴۵ years participated in this study and weredivided into three groups: Group ۱ (Prolonged exercise) consisted of footballers (۱۰ males and ۹ females) who playedfootball for at least two hrs daily; Group II (Moderate exercise) consisted of individuals (۱۴ males and ۵ females) whoplayed football for ۳۰ min ۳ times a week; Group III (۱۰ males and ۹ females) were sedentary workers, who rarely hadany form of physical exercise. The plasma samples were assayed for NO, C-reactive protein (CRP), caeruloplasmin,haptoglobin, and transferrin using spectrophotometer and immunoplates. Statistical analysis was done using thestudent’s-t-test.ResultsThe result showed that there was a significant reduction in the level of NO in prolonged exercise (P<۰.۰۵) whencompared with control subjects while the increase of NO in subjects with moderate exercise was not statisticallysignificant when compared with control subjects. C-reactive protein was significantly increased (P< ۰.۰۱) whiletransferrin and haptoglobin were significantly reduced (P< ۰.۰۰۱ and P< ۰.۰۱ respectively) in subjects with prolongedexercise when compared with control subjects. In moderate exercise, haptoglobin was significantly reduced (P< ۰.۰۵)while the reduction in the levels of caeruloplasmin and transferrin was not statistically significant when compared withcontrol subjects. The mean level of CRP was significantly raised in prolonged exercise compared with controls ormoderate exercise while the level of caeruloplasmin was significantly reduced in prolonged exercise compared withcontrols or moderate exercise.ConclusionModerate exercises should be encouraged.