fa International Journal of Kinesiology & Sports Science ISSN 2202-946X Vol. 2 No. 4; October 2014 Australian International Academic Centre, Australia The Effect of Progressive Aerobic Exercise On G6PD Activity Among Active and Sedentary Men Amin Allah Dashtiyan Department of Sport Physiology, University of Mohaghegh Ardebili Ardebil, Iran E-mail: amin.dashtiyan@yahoo.com Marefat Siahkouhian Department of Sport Physiology, University of Mohaghegh Ardebili Ardebil, Iran E-mail: m_siahkohian@uma.ac.ir Masoud Ganji Departments of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Mohaghegh Ardebili Ardebil, Iran E-mail: mganji@uma.ac.ir Aidin Valizadeh Oranj Department of Sport Physiology, University of Mohaghegh Ardebili Ardebil, Iran E-mail: valizadeh@uma.ac.ir Hadi Bashafaat (Corresponding author) Department of Sport Physiology, Faculty of General Department of Fars Province Education Fars, Iran E-mail: bashafaat@yahoo.com Received: 26-08- 2014 Accepted: 18-10- 2014 Published: 31-10- 2014 doi:10.7575/aiac.ijkss.v.2n.4p.7 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijkss.v.2n.4p.7 Abstract Background: Erythrocyte glucose–6–phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity is highly associated with free radical production. G6PD deficiency can increase the sensitivity of erythrocytes to oxidative stress resulting in hemolytic anemia. Aim: to study the main effect of progressive aerobic exercise on G6PD activity in active and sedentary men. Material and Methods: the study comprised 10 active men and 10 sedentary men. The protocol, started with running at approximately %75 of their maximal oxygen uptake for 30 min x times a week for y weeks. Venous blood samples (5ml) were collected prior to, immediately after, 2 hours and 24 hours after exercise. G6PD activity was evaluated with auto-Analyzer Method. Result: G6PD was not significantly higher in the active men in comparison with the sedentary men at baseline (10.5 ± 1.2 (IU/gHb) VS 9.5 ± 1.0 (IU/gHb), P ≤ 0.05). G6PD activity was increased significantly in both groups immediately after exercise but was not considerably different between the groups (11.6 ± 2.7 (IU/gHb) VS 9.9 ± 1.1 (IU/gHb), for active and sedentary men, respectively; P ≤ 0.05). G6PD returned to the baseline levels 2 hours after exercise in active men but remained high in sedentary men (10.5 ± 1.4 (IU/gHb) VS 10.1 ± 1.1 (IU/gHb, P ≤ 0.05). Also, G6PD levels showed a significant increase 24 hours after exercise in the active men in comparison with the sedentary men (11.8 ± 2.5 (IU/gHb) VS 9.5 ± 1.5 (IU/gHb), P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: In this regard, it can be concluded that, progressive aerobic exercise may be an effective factor affecting the levels of G6PD significantly, and as a home message it is useful for controlling the hemolytic anemia among sedentary population. Keywords: G6PD activity, progressive aerobic exercise, hemolytic anemia 1. Introduction Glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase (G6PD) is a crucial enzyme in pentose phosphate pathway, because it provides nucleotide precursors and NADPH for the cell (Wamelink, Struys, & Jakobs, 2008). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is considered a prevalent genetic disorder (it affects roughly 7% of world population) that can lead to increased sensitivity of erythrocytes to oxidative stress resulting in hemolytic anemia (Allahverdiyev et al., 2012; Nikolaidis et al., 2006). Its major function is reducing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) to NADPH (Bommareddy, Chen, Rappert, & Zeng, 2014; Petrat, Pindiur, Kirsch, & de Groot, 2003). NADPH is necessary as a cofactor in reducing oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to its reduced condition (GSH) and for reducing mixed disulfides of glutathione and cellular proteins (Masella, Di Benedetto, Varì, Filesi, & Giovannini, 2005; Schafer & Buettner, 2001). GSH serves as protection against oxidative attack. It is used by the Selenium-Glutathione Peroxidase