EXERCISE CAUSES BLOOD GLUTATHIONE OXIDATION IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE - PREVENTION BY O-2 THERAPY

The aim of the present study was to determine whether glutathione oxid ation occurs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who perform exercise and whether this could be prevented. Blood glutat hione red-ox ratio [oxidized-to-reduced glutathione (GSSG/GSH)] was si gnificantly increased when patients performed exercise for a short per iod of time until exhaustion. Their resting blood GSSG/GSH was 0.039 /- 0.008 (SD) (n = 5), whereas after exercise it increased to 0.085 +/ - 0.019, P < 0.01. Glutathione oxidation associated with exercise was partially prevented by oxygen therapy (resting value: 0.037 +/- 0.014, n = 5; after exercise: 0.047 +/- 0.016, n = 5, P < 0.01). We conclude that light exercise causes an oxidation of glutathione in COPD patien ts, which can be partially prevented by oxygen therapy.