D-ribose intake effectiveness for improving swimmer functionality

Abstract

Athlete functioning in an elite division at the optimum level is not known to be effective without the application of dietary supplements. The aim of our study was to determine the exogenous ribose influence on the physiological and biochemical parameters of elite athletes, swimmers, in terms of physical fatigue. Methods and Materials. The study involved 83 male highly qualified swimmers. The athletes were divided into two groups: 1) athletes without complaints of fatigue and decreased workability (n=61) and 2) athletes with complaints (n=22). The swimmers in the 2nd group took ribose (manufactured in the USA) in a dose of 0.03 g/kg per single dose before and after every workout for a week. After completing the ribose intake regime, the athletes were retested. The results were processed using the statistical analysis package SPSS version 13.0. Under the normal distribution of variables, the obtained data were processed using the Student's criterion. In absence of a normal distribution, the Mann–Whitney U-test was used for statistical analysis. The differences between the average values were considered to be significant at p<0.05. Results. The decreasing physical workability and maximum oxygen consumption in the 2nd group of swimmers were 19.5% and 15.3%, respectively; the glutathione level decreased by 10.7% (P=0.01), the activity of glutathione peroxidase decreased by 16.3% (P=0.03), glutathione reductase decreased by 17.1% (P=0.02), and superoxide dismutase decreased by 16.5% (P=0.03). After a week of ribose intake, the workability of the swimmers was restored by 14.3%, and the maximum oxygen consumption increased by 9.7%; however, the index of stress decreased by 38.8% according to the heart rate variability data. The ribose intake increased the glutathione content in the erythrocytes by 10.5% (P<0.05), the glutathione peroxidase by 12.5% (P=0.04), and the glutathione reductase by 16.9% (P=0.04). Conclusions. The results showed that exogenous ribose increased the functional state of swimmers and the antioxidant system capacity by replenishing the glutathione content and increasing the glutathione-dependent enzyme activity.