The Effect of Intense Short-Term Training on Serum Levels of Homocysteine and C-Reactive Protein in Elite High School Volleyball Players

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an intense short-term training course on concentration of serum of selected cardiovascular and inflammation markers (CK, CRP, and Hcys) in male elite volleyball players of high school in Golestan province during the training period. The experimental group consisted of 12 elite volleyball players in the premier league (age 17.08 ± 0.66 years, height 190.33 ± 6.02 cm, weight 65.12 ± 4.52 kg) and a control group including 12 healthy inactive students (age 17.00 ± 0.73 years, height 182.58 ± 10.24 cm, weight 64.12 ± 4.82 kg). The experimental group experienced 6 weeks of preparation training, whereas the control group did not exercise regularly. In order to measure the changes of selected biochemical variables in two stages (before training and after 6 weeks of preparation training), subjects were invited to the laboratory and their blood sampling was done in a fasting state. T-Test results were as follows: Homocysteine in experimental group had a non-significant increase (P= 0.945). But, the C-reactive protein and creatine kinase levels in both groups did not change significantly (respectively P= 0.991, P= 0.061). It seems that 6 weeks of short-term intense training had not any negative effects on cardiovascular health, and can be used in the course of preparation by coaches and players.