Exercise and Oxidative Stress during Aging
Li Li Ji
Department of Kinesiology, Interdisciplinary Nutritional Science,
University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706
Oxidative stress underlies the etiology of aging and age-related degenerative diseases due to increased free radical generation and/or impaired cellular antioxidant defenses. Physical activity has many well-established health benefits for the aged individuals, however, unaccustomed strenuous exercise can enhance intracellular oxidative processes due to increased mitochondrial oxygen consumption, activated monoxygenase activity and inflammatory response to injury. Research evidence indicates that aged animals are more susceptible to exercise-induced oxidative stress. Pre-deposition of certain age-related pathologic conditions may exacerbate the risks. In spite of these risks, regular physical activity is deemed beneficial to the general population as well as the elderly because training reduces oxidative stress to the mitochondria, improves muscle strength and endurance making it less vulnerable to acute injury and chronic inflammation and induces cellular antioxidant systems. The speaker will review new research data on how aging and exercise may affect gene expression and signal transduction of antioxidant enzymes, and whether antioxidant supplementation may aid to attenuate oxidative stress during exercise for aged animals and humans.
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