Hydrotherapy in the evaluation of enzymatic antioxidants in an elderly population

Abstract

Introduction Oxidative stress is the imbalance between reactive species produced in the body during metabolic reactions and antioxidant agents that have the ability to neutralize or prevent the formation of these species. One of the effects of oxidative stress is the normal and physiological process of cell aging that arises from the accumulation of tissue damage caused by free radicals.Objectives To assess whether the activity of enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) are influenced by the hydrotherapy sessions.Methodology 37 subjects aged 60 years old and above, of both genders, were divided into two groups (experimental and control). The experimental group underwent 15 hydrotherapy sessions supervised by a physical therapist. Two peripheral venous blood samples were collected at two different times: T0, instant before the intervention and T1, instant after the last session. The activity of SOD, GPx and GR enzymes were determined, respectively, with the Ransod superoxide dismutase, Ransel glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase commercial kits, from Randox Laboratories Limited, United Kingdom. The assay was performed as described in the kits and the sample results were obtained by spectrophotometric reading.Results SOD activity at T1 tended to decrease slightly compared to T0 (1437.64 ± 593.46 vs 1421.41 ± 705.39 U/g Hb). At T1, there was a statistically significant increase in GPx activity (48.14 ± 17.22 vs 57.72 ± 19.99 U/g Hb) and in GR activity (78.44 ± 21.26 vs 100.18 ± 30.85 U/L). Regarding gender, both genders tended to have higher values of GPx and GR at T1.Conclusion According to the obtained results, we conclude that the practice of hydrotherapy presents as a positive stimulus in the antioxidant activity of aged individuals suggesting that a regular and moderate practice of exercise induces a higher quality of life.