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

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 METHODS: A total of 57 subjects (34 males and 23 females) between ages of 19 and 45 years participated in this study and were divided into three groups: Group 1 (Prolonged exercise) consisted of footballers (10 males and 9 females) who played football for at least two hrs daily; Group II (Moderate exercise) consisted of individuals (14 males and 5 females) who played football for 30 min 3 times a week; Group III (10 males and 9 females) were sedentary workers, who rarely had any 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 the student’s-t-test. RESULTS: The result showed that there was a significant reduction in the level of NO in prolonged exercise (P<0.05) when compared with control subjects while the increase of NO in subjects with moderate exercise was not statistically significant when compared with control subjects. C-reactive protein was significantly increased (P< 0.01) while transferrin and haptoglobin were significantly reduced (P< 0.001 and P< 0.01 respectively) in subjects with prolonged exercise when compared with control subjects. In moderate exercise, haptoglobin was significantly reduced (P< 0.05) while the reduction in the levels of caeruloplasmin and transferrin was not statistically significant when compared with control subjects. The mean level of CRP was significantly raised in prolonged exercise compared with controls or moderate exercise while the level of caeruloplasmin was significantly reduced in prolonged exercise compared with controls or moderate exercise. CONCLUSION: Moderate exercises should be encouraged.