Change in the capability of reactive oxygen species production by neutrophils following weight reduction in female judoists

Objective: Athletes undergoing weight reduction are recognised as being more prone to infection. Few studies exist for athletes on the weight reduction-mediated changes in neutrophil function and related activities such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) production capability, phagocytic activity (PA) and serum opsonic activity (SOA). Methods: 16 Japanese female university judoists were examined in the early morning of the first day (pre-values) and the last day (post-values) of a 20-day pre-competition training period. Of the 16 subjects, 8 needed to reduce weight (WR group) and the other 8 did not (control group). The parameters assessed were the neutrophil count, serum immunoglobulins and complements, myogenic enzymes, ROS production capability, PA and SOA. Results: Comparing the post-values with the pre-values, ROS production significantly increased in both groups (p