The effect of the physical exercise on the redox status of chil- dren with repaired congenital heart diseases

Abstract

   Purpose. Evaluation of the impact of the physical rehabilitation program with the inclusion of ubidecarenone on the redox status in children with repaired congenital heart diseases.   Material and methods. Markers of free radical oxidation (lactate, pyruvate, lactate-to-pyruvate ratio) and antioxidant system (catalase, reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase) were studied in 84 children, including 48 children with repaired congenital heart diseases and 36 healthy peers. The main group consisted of 28 patients who performed a rehabilitation program using physical activity in combination with taking ubidecarenone for a year, the comparison group consisted of 20 children who received only ubidecarenone.   Results. After the rehabilitation program was completed, both the main group and the comparison group had a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in lactate levels, the ratio of lactate to pyruvate, and an increase in catalase and reduced RBC glutathione. The group of children who performed physical exercises had significantly lower levels of markers of free radical oxidation and higher values of markers of the antioxidant system than the patients from the comparison group.   Conclusion. There are free radical oxidation and the antioxidant system impairments in children with repaired congenital heart diseases. The use of ubidecarenone reduces oxidative stress and increases antioxidant protection in children with repaired congenital heart diseases. The inclusion of physical activity in the rehabilitation program for children with repaired congenital heart diseases improves the redox status and increases the effectiveness of rehabilitation.