DSC serum profiles of sportsmen

Abstract

The blood serum of young athletes has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method. The component peaks of complex endothermic transition corresponding to serum denaturation may be correlated with the main protein fractions of serum: albumin, alpha-1, alpha-2, beta- and gamma-globulins. The averaged shape of thermal transition observed for serum of sportsmen participating in our pilot study differs from that reported previously for healthy subjects. One of the reason for the difference may be the lower than normal value of albumins to globulins ratio found for individuals in our group of athletes. Modifications of serum DSC transition due to the exercise test and 1 and 2 h rest have been observed. Statistically based conclusions are not currently possible because of the low number of participants in the study. The averaged responses to the effort and to the rest have been shown clearly different for athletes classified as the best and typical. The first moment of the transition with respect to the temperature axis has been found significantly lower for the group of athletes considered as the best. © 2013 The Author(s).