Effect of platelet rich plasma on antioxidant status in healthy men postexercise-induced muscle damage

BACKGROUND: Platelets rich plasma (PRP) is reported to facilitate muscle regeneration both in vitro and in animal studies. However, the impact of intramuscular delivery of PRP on antioxidant status has not been fully elucidated in exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of intramuscular delivery of PRP on antioxidant level and the recovery in EIMD. METHODS: Male volunteers were assigned to a control (control, N.=6) and PRP administration group (PRP, N.=6), they performed exercise with a load of 80% one repetition maximum (1RM) maximal voluntary contraction of the elbow flexors until the point of exhaustion of the non-dominant arm was reached. The arms were treated with saline or autologous PRP post-24h EIMD. Venous blood samples were obtained in the morning to establish a baseline value and 1-4 days postexercise were analyzed for plasma peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1 alpha), thioredoxin (TRX) and sirtuin-1 (SIRT-1) level. RESULTS: The baseline levels of plasma PGC-1 alpha and SIRT-1 were different whilst TRX values were similar in both groups. However, 24 h following exercise a significant increase in the level of both of these was observed in both groups. Importantly, after PRP administration, the postexercise level of the PGC-1 alpha, TRX and SIRT-1 increased by a factor of 100% to 200% when compared to the control. CONCLUSIONS: PRP up-regulated antioxidant levels postexercise and may have a role to play in protection against to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).