EFFECT OF ASCORBIC ACID ON DNA DAMAGE AND OXIDATIVE STRESS INTENSIVE EXERCISE CAUSES

The aim of this study is to determine effects of ascorbic acid on DNA damage and oxidative stress in rats on which intensive exercise stress was created. In the present study, eighteen Sprague Dawley types of male rats which were 22 weeks old were classified as Sedentary, Exercise, Exercise+AA. After a ten day intensive treadmill exer-cise (15 m/day, straight 20 meters per minute velocity), blood and muscle samples were taken, and total oxidative stress status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) and 8- Hydroxy-2 -deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were tested. Kruskal Wallis-H and Mann-Whitney-U tests were administered for statistical analysis. It was found that TOS value was higher in Exercise group compared with that of Sedentary group (p 0.01), and although it did not reach the statistical signifi-cance (p 0.05), TOS value was lower in Exercise+AA group than that of exercise group. Although TAS value in Exer-cise group was higher than the sedentary group, the difference was not statistically significant (p 0.05). AA group had higher TAS value compared with exercise group (p 0.05). Although 8-OHdG value of the exercise group was higher compared with the sedentary group, the difference was not statistically significant (p 0.05). Although there was no difference between 8-OHdG values of Exercise+AA and Exercise groups (p 0.05). 8-OHdG values of Exercise+AA group was lower compared with Exercise group. It was found that exercise increases TOS and 8-OHdG values (DNA damage), AA reverses this negative trend by its strong antioxidant effect.