OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to study the influence of an ovolactovegetarian diet and strenuous physical exercise on the activity of the enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase in 10 young, healthy men whose diet was controlled for four months. METHODS: Blood samples were collected at baseline and after the four-month period, before strenuous exercise and after 5 minutes of strenuous exercise on a treadmill. RESULTS: The results showed that the ovolactovegetarian diet reduced the activity of the enzyme catalase by 18.98% (p<0.05) and increased the activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase by 77.84% (p<0.001) before strenuous exercise. After strenuous exercise, the ovolactovegetarian diet reduced the activity of the enzyme catalase by 26.11% (p<0.05) and did not affect the activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that a healthy ovolactovegetarian diet impacts the activity of both enzymes.
Antioxidant; Diet vegetarian; Oxidative stress; Exercise
