The effect of a calisthenic exercise bout on oxidant and antioxidant status in middle-aged and postmenopausal women

Exercise increases the generation of oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidant and antioxidant status in sedentary middle-aged (36.8 +/- 5.4 years, n = 20) and postmenopausal women (51.4 +/- 3.3 years, n = 11) before and after acute calisthenic exercise. Both subject groups performed an acute calisthenic exercise for 55 minutes. The intensity of the exercise was 60-70% of maximal heart rate, as determined by Karvonen et al. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), gluathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (AA) and nitric oxide (NOx) levels were determined spectrophotometrically