The effect of eight weeks occlusion strength training on oxidative stress responses to a graded maximal exercise test in overweight men

Low-intensity strength training with vascular occlusion was reported to result in muscle hypertrophy and strength increases similar to high-intensity training without occlusion. The effects of occlusion strength training on oxidative stress still remain to be more elucidate. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effect of strength training with and without occlusion on oxidative stress biomarkers on basal and following to graded exercise test (GXT) in overweight men. Thirty volunteer subjects were randomized into occlusion strength training (OST), traditional strength training (TRT) and control (CON), were submitted to a GXT at baseline and after the 8-weeks of training protocol (30% 1-repetetion maximum for OST and 65-80% 1-repetetion maximum for TRT), with blood samples collected before, post, 1 and 24 h post-GXT test. Plasma malonaldehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were evaluated. Following the eight weeks training, the OST and TRT groups displayed a significant decrease in MDA (in pre and 1-h post GXT), and increase in TAC (in 24-h post GXT) levels compared to CON group (P<0.05). For OST and TRT, MDA demonstrated a significant reduction and TAC demonstrated a significant increase in basal and 24-h post GXT than baseline (P<0.05). In conclusion, the OST similar to TRT protocol may be able to improve oxidative stress defense allowing overweight subjects to cope with the oxidative stress induced by an acute exercise more effectively.