Plasma Nitric Oxide and Acute Phase Proteins after Moderate and Prolonged xercises

The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO) and certain acute phase proteins (caeruloplasmin, transferrin, haptoglobin, C-reactive protein) in Nigerian subjects after short and prolonged exercises. A total of 57 subjects (34 males and 23 females) between ages of 19 and 45 years participated in this study and were divided into three groups: Group 1 (Prolonged exercise) consisted of footballers (10 males and 9 females) who played football for at least two hrs daily; Group II (Moderate exercise) consisted of individuals (14 males and 5 females) who played football for 30 min 3 times a week; Group III (10 males and 9 females) were sedentary workers, who rarely had any form of physical exercise. The plasma samples were assayed for NO, C-reactive protein (CRP), caeruloplasmin, haptoglobin, and transferrin using spectrophotometer and immunoplates. Statistical analysis was done using the student's-t-test. The result showed that there was a significant reduction in the level of NO in prolonged exercise (P