Effects of a bout of traditional and original sumo training on neutrophil immune function in amateur university sumo wrestlers

Influence of a 3-month training program on muscular damage and neutrophil function in male university freshman judoists

We studied the effects of a high intensity and high frequency 3-month training program on muscle damage and neutrophil function in male judoists. The study included 15 male judoists who started intensive judo training program after a 6-month break. Creatine kinase (CK), neutrophil counts and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production capability as well as phagocytic activity (PA) of neutrophils were measured at 2 stages; entering university (pre-training) and after 3-month training (post-training). At both points, we investigated parameters three times: just before, immediately after and 24 h after a 2-h practice session. Practice-mediated change in CK was lower at post-training than at pre-training. Neutrophil count significantly increased after 2-h practice but recovered 24 h later whereas it showed no subsequent and further increased at 24 h post-practice. Although neutrophil ROS production capability and PA both decreased (breakdown) after practice session, ROS production capability increased and PA decreased (well-adapted) at the post-training. Long-term training strengthened muscular function and improved neutrophil reaction against practice-mediated stress.

Effects of soccer matches on neutrophil and lymphocyte functions in female university soccer players

In this study, changes in physical fatigue and biological functions of Japanese female soccer players were investigated by determining changes in neutrophil and lymphocyte functions. Study subjects included 18 female soccer players. Body composition, serum myogenic enzymes, neutrophil function, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) production capability, phagocytic activity (PA) and serum opsonic activity, as well as lymphocyte subpopulation were measured before and after a soccer match. Levels of myogenic enzymes (AST, ALT, CK and LDH) and immunoglobulins (IgG and IgA) and complements (C3) increased significantly after the match. In addition, leukocyte, neutrophils and lymphocyte counts increased whereas total PA decreased significantly. The number of T and Th1 cells (subsets of T helper cells) decreased whereas Th2 increased significantly. In addition, the number of B cells increased and NK cells decreased significantly after the match. The match was found to result in degenerative changes in and damage to athlete muscle tissues together with damage- and change-mediated stress. These data also suggest a post-match accelerated inflammatory reaction and potential immunosuppression as indicated by reductions in neutrophil PA and lymphocyte functions.

Changes in neutrophil functions during a 10-month soccer season and their effects on the physical condition of professional Japanese soccer players

We examined changes in neutrophil function of soccer players over a 10-month period and determined its effectiveness as an index for athlete physical condition. Subjects included 21 male professional Japanese soccer players. Data on body composition, myogenic enzymes and neutrophil function were obtained before and after 2 h of training at 3 investigation points: one week before opening season, at season mid-point, and one week before the last game of the season. As a result, change ratios of myogenic enzyme levels before and after the 2-hr training session at the third investigation point were significantly higher compared to the two other points. Reactive oxygen species production and phagocytic activity significantly increased after 2-hr training session at point 1, although the extent of the increase became smaller over time and ROS production capability decreased significantly by point 3 assessment. Fatigue, especially muscle fatigue, chronically accumulated along with a gradual decrease in neutrophil immune function over the 10-month season. Therefore, determination of neutrophil function can be used as a useful index to assess and understand an athlete's physical condition.

[Changes in neutrophil immune functions under different exercise stresses]

The aim of this review is to provide a summary of the known effects of exercise on neutrophil immune functions of athletes. We measured three neutrophil immune functions (i.e., phagocytic activity (PA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and serum opsonic activity (SOA)) in various types of exercise. The following is our recent findings. (1) A regular exercise increases ROS production and decreases PA. We call this change a normal pattern, and an abnormal pattern except this change. (2) A prolonged, strenuous activity (e.g., rugby match and marathon) decreases both ROS production and PA. This is one of the abnormal pattern. (3) The exercise loading performed after a camp training decreases ROS production whereas PA does not change. This is another abnormal pattern. (4) When judoists who had stopped judo training for 6 months restarted their training, the exercise loading at the beginning of their training decreases PA whereas ROS production does not change. This is another abnormal pattern. (5) A regular exercise 2 months after the beginning of their training increases ROS production and decreases PA. This change is a normal pattern. SOA showed a similar pattern of changes to ROS under all conditions. The changes in neutrophil immune functions after performing various exercises might result from the balance between external factors (intensity and style of exercise) and internal factors (e.g., fatigue and physical pain). Therefore, the changes in three neutrophil immune functions after exercise might be an index of athletes' condition.

Haematological, inflammatory, and immunological responses in elite judo athletes maintaining high training loads during Ramadan

During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and fluid intake from dawn to sunset for 1 month. These behavioural changes that accompany Ramadan may impact upon Muslim athletes who continue to train intensely. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) on the haematological, inflammatory, and immunological measures in elite judo athletes maintaining their usual high training loads. Haematological markers of inflammation, hormones, and immune status were studied in 15 elite male judo athletes before, during, and after Ramadan. The RIF produced small but significant changes in inflammatory, hormonal, and immunological profiles in judo athletes. Serum C-reactive protein increased from 2.93 +/- 0.26 mg.L-1 pre-Ramadan to 4.60 +/- 0.51 mg.L-1 at the end of Ramadan. Haptoglobin and antitrypsin also significantly increased at different phases during Ramadan, whereas homocysteine and prealbumin remained relatively unchanged. Albumin decreased slightly by mid-Ramadan, then recovered. Immunoglobulin Aincreased from 1.87 +/- 0.56 g.L-1 before Ramadan to 2.49 +/- 0.75 g.L-1 at the end, and remained high 3 weeks after. There were no changes in the leucocyte cell counts throughout the study. The mean blood level of thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine increased significantly during RIF. Most of these changes were within the normal ranges. These results suggest that athletes who continue to train intensely during Ramadan are liable to experience a myriad of small fluctuations in hormones, immunoglobulins, antioxidants, and inflammatory responses.