The Effects of an Acute Bout of Aerobic Exercise on White and Red Blood Cell Count in Individuals with Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency

Christina Yfanti 1, Athanasios Jamurtas1, Ioannis Fatouros2, Yiannis Koutedakis1, Eirini Manthou1, Nikolaos

Koukosias3, Trifonas Tofas1

1Department of Physical Education & Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Hellas

2Department of Physical Education & Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Hellas

3Program of Elective Studies Medical Biochemistry, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Hellas

Abstract

Exercise causes alterations in most of the systems that constitute the human body. Production of stress hormones, alterations in the circulating quantity and function of blood cells, production of free radicals, are some of these alterations. A number of studies indicate that acute aerobic exercise results in increased plasma leukocyte number. Furthermore, exercise is related to erythrocyte damage. These alterations in blood cell count are the result of the activation of various hormones, such as catecholamines and cortisol, and the exercise  induced oxidative stress. In addition, there is a limited number of studies that have evaluated the exercise induced oxidative stress in individuals with Glucose-6-Phosphate-Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, but there are no reports about the effect of exercise on white and red blood cell count in these individuals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an acute bout of aerobic exercise on white and red blood cell count in individuals with G6PD deficiency. Eighteen individuals participated in the present study, nine with G6PD deficiency (D) and nine with normal levels of G6PD (N). All participants ran on a treadmill for 45 min at an intensity corresponding to 70-75 % of their Maximal Heart Rate. Before and at the end of the exercise bout, blood samples were collected in order to evaluate the white and red blood cell count. Repeated measures ANOVA were performed to test for differences in the changing patterns of white and red blood cell count before and after exercise between D and N. The results revealed that there were no significant differences in any of the assessed variables. The results indicate that an acute bout of aerobic exercise of moderate intensity does not alter the white or the red blood cell count in individuals with G6PD deficiency and normal levels of the enzyme.

Key words: oxidative stress, blood, pentose phosphate pathway