Blood biochemical values in highly qualified athletes of Magadan

Aim. The purpose of this study was to evaluate biochemical parameters in highly skilled athletes from various sports. Materials and methods. Forty highly skilled male athletes (mean age = 23.44 ± 1.08 years) from different sports (martial arts, team sports, and cycling sports) were examined. The Beckman Coulter AU480 biochemical analyzer was used to perform the following analyses: kinetic (enzyme content), modified Jaffe reaction (creatinine), uricase method (uric acid), paramagnetic particle-based chemiluminescent assay (testosterone, cortisol). Results. Transaminase activity (Alanine transaminase [ALAT], Aspartate transaminase [ASAT]) was normal in all athletes. Significant differences were found in ALAT and ASAT in martial arts athletes compared to cyclic sports athletes. Fifty-two percent of all athletes had increased levels of creatine kinase (CK). The muscle damage index (CK/ASAT ratio) exceeded ten arbitrary units in martial arts and team sports athletes (39 and 33 %, respectively), which indicated muscle tissue damage. In all the athletes, lactate dehydrogenase (LD) levels in serum were within reference values. However, a significant difference (p = 0.1) in LD levels was found between martial arts and team sports athletes. The rest of the biochemical parameters were within reference ranges for the age group. Conclusion. Team sports and martial arts athletes had higher levels of CK and creatinine compared with athletes from cyclic sports. This was probably associated with different exercise programs that influenced enzyme release either as a result of mechanical damage or metabolic stress due to exercise-induced free radical accumulation. Increased CK levels in the serum in the absence of usual exercise can be considered a northern feature of energy supply through the CK mechanism.