Intensity of Depression Symptoms Is Negatively Associated with Catalase Activity in Master Athletes.

Background: This study examined associations between scores of depression (DEPs), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase activity (CAT) in master athletes and untrained controls.

Methods: Participants were master sprinters (MS, = 24; 50.31 ± 6.34 year), endurance runners (ER, = 11; 51.35 ± 9.12 year), untrained middle-aged (CO, = 13; 47.21 ± 8.61 year), and young untrained (YU, = 15; 23.70 ± 4.02 year). CAT, SOD, and TBARS were measured in plasma using commercial kits. DEPs were measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II. An ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson's, and Spearman's correlations were applied, with a significance level of ≤ 0.05.

Results: The CATs of MS and YU [760.4 U·μL 1 ± 170.1 U·μL 1 and 729.9 U·μL 1 ± 186.9 U·μL 1] were higher than CO and ER. The SOD levels in the YU and ER [84.20 U·mL ± 8.52 U·mL and 78.24 U·mL ± 6.59 U·mL ( < 0.0001)] were higher than CO and MS. The TBARS in CO [11.97 nmol·L ± 2.35 nmol·L ( < 0.0001)] was higher than in YU, MS and ER. MS had lower DEPs compared to the YU [3.60 ± 3.66 vs. 12.27 ± 9.27 ( = 0.0002)]. A negative correlation was found between CAT and DEPs for master athletes [r = -0.3921 ( = 0.0240)] and a weak correlation [r = -0.3694 ( = 0.0344)] was found between DEPs and the CAT/TBARS ratio.

Conclusions: In conclusion, the training model of master sprinters may be an effective strategy for increasing CAT and reducing DEPs.