Xanthine oxidase and uric acid response to a 6-week pre-season training programme in male athletes

This study was carried out to determine the influence of a 6-week pre-season exercise programme including aerobic and anaerobic loads on xanthine oxidase and uric acid levels of male athletes. Fifty voluntary subjects ( the average age is 23 ± 5)  participated in this study as study a group. The control group included 30 healthy resting male volunteers with the average age of 23 ± 6. For 6 weeks, the athletes participated in pre-season training programme private to their sports branches 5 times a week. The programme included both aerobic and anaerobic loads. The venous blood samples were taken from all athletes before and after a six-week program and xanthine oxidase and uric acid levels were measured. The paired and independent t tests were used for comparisons. The mean xanthine oxidase and uric acid levels of the control group were 2.86 ± 0.45 U/grHb and 4.85 ± 0.43 mg/dL, respectively. For the exercise group, the mean XO and UA levels were 3.01 ± 0.39 U/grHb and 5.33 ± 0.69 mg/dL as pre-test, and 4.38 ± 0.77 U/grHb and 8.39 ± 0.33 mg/dL as post-test, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the groups (p < 0.05, p < 0.001) and within the study group (p < 0.01). There was a significant difference in the xanthine oxidase and uric acid levels of the athletes in the exercise group before and after training programme consisting of aerobic and anaerobic loads. Moreover, similar difference was seen between exercise and control groups. Thus it can be concluded that exercise has an effect on xantine oxidase and uric acid levels.   Key words: Xanthine oxidase, uric acid, preparatory, training, athlete.