The Age-related Changes of Energy Metabolism in Physically Fit Adult Males

The Influence of Age and Physical Fitness Level on the Level of Energy Metabolism and Antioxidant Capacity in Adult Males

The influence of age and physical fitness level on the level of energy metabolism and antioxidant capacity in adult males.

Over four hundred healthy, adult males of different age categories and physical fitness levels were included in the study. There is much research convincing that in athletes of various sports disciplines the level of energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and amino acid profiles during years of training undergoes sports adaptation. The study aimed to evaluate how age and physical fitness level affects the level of purine metabolites and metabolites of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, the level of antioxidant capacity, and amino acid profiles. Investigators hypothesized that there will be an age-related decline in most of the physiological indices, but significant differences will appear regarding the level of an individual's sports adaptation.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. healthy
2. non-smoking
3. physically fit, including top-level athletes

Exclusion Criteria:

1. no reported history of a cardiopulmonary or renal diseases, and other chronic diseases
2. no major orthopedic injury or illness resulting in an inability to run
3. no medications that could affect cardiopulmonary functions
4. normal resting electrocardiogram
5. body mass index (BMI) below 30.0 kg·m-2
6. normal erythrocyte count and Hb content
7. no pathological states known of significantly elevated adenylate pool and concentration of ATP, e.g. sickle cell disease, diabetes, leukemia, sepsis, tuberculosis, meningococcal infection, or renal insufficiency