Antioxidant Defense and Redox Signaling in Elite Soccer Players: Insights into Muscle Function, Recovery, and Training Adaptations
Elite soccer places significant neuromuscular and metabolic stress on athletes, leading to elevated production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), particularly in skeletal muscle, where intense contractile activity and increased oxygen flux drive oxidative processes. These reactive speci...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/815 |
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| author | Qing Meng Chun-Hsien Su |
| author_facet | Qing Meng Chun-Hsien Su |
| author_sort | Qing Meng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Elite soccer places significant neuromuscular and metabolic stress on athletes, leading to elevated production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), particularly in skeletal muscle, where intense contractile activity and increased oxygen flux drive oxidative processes. These reactive species play a dual role in skeletal muscle, supporting adaptive signaling at controlled levels while causing oxidative damage when poorly regulated. This paper presents an integrated synthesis of current knowledge on redox biology in elite soccer players, focusing on the origins and regulation of RONS, the functions of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems, and how both RONS and antioxidant responses influence muscle performance, fatigue, recovery, and long-term physiological adaptation. Drawing on studies conducted between 2000 and 2025, the discussion underscores the seasonal fluctuations in oxidative stress, individual variability in redox responses, and the potential adverse effects of unsystematic antioxidant supplementation. The analysis also emphasizes the value of using biomarker-guided, periodized antioxidant interventions tailored to training demands. Future directions include longitudinal tracking and the use of AI-assisted monitoring to enable personalized strategies for maintaining redox balance and optimizing performance in elite sport. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ebb76b3d3d943eab586f185f2c46d82 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ebb76b3d3d943eab586f185f2c46d822025-08-20T03:13:39ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212025-07-0114781510.3390/antiox14070815Antioxidant Defense and Redox Signaling in Elite Soccer Players: Insights into Muscle Function, Recovery, and Training AdaptationsQing Meng0Chun-Hsien Su1School of Physical Education, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, ChinaDepartment of Exercise and Health Promotion, Chinese Culture University, Taipei 111369, TaiwanElite soccer places significant neuromuscular and metabolic stress on athletes, leading to elevated production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), particularly in skeletal muscle, where intense contractile activity and increased oxygen flux drive oxidative processes. These reactive species play a dual role in skeletal muscle, supporting adaptive signaling at controlled levels while causing oxidative damage when poorly regulated. This paper presents an integrated synthesis of current knowledge on redox biology in elite soccer players, focusing on the origins and regulation of RONS, the functions of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems, and how both RONS and antioxidant responses influence muscle performance, fatigue, recovery, and long-term physiological adaptation. Drawing on studies conducted between 2000 and 2025, the discussion underscores the seasonal fluctuations in oxidative stress, individual variability in redox responses, and the potential adverse effects of unsystematic antioxidant supplementation. The analysis also emphasizes the value of using biomarker-guided, periodized antioxidant interventions tailored to training demands. Future directions include longitudinal tracking and the use of AI-assisted monitoring to enable personalized strategies for maintaining redox balance and optimizing performance in elite sport.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/815mitochondrial biogenesisexercise-induced stressreactive species regulationtraining periodizationinjury preventionbiomarker monitoring |
| spellingShingle | Qing Meng Chun-Hsien Su Antioxidant Defense and Redox Signaling in Elite Soccer Players: Insights into Muscle Function, Recovery, and Training Adaptations Antioxidants mitochondrial biogenesis exercise-induced stress reactive species regulation training periodization injury prevention biomarker monitoring |
| title | Antioxidant Defense and Redox Signaling in Elite Soccer Players: Insights into Muscle Function, Recovery, and Training Adaptations |
| title_full | Antioxidant Defense and Redox Signaling in Elite Soccer Players: Insights into Muscle Function, Recovery, and Training Adaptations |
| title_fullStr | Antioxidant Defense and Redox Signaling in Elite Soccer Players: Insights into Muscle Function, Recovery, and Training Adaptations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antioxidant Defense and Redox Signaling in Elite Soccer Players: Insights into Muscle Function, Recovery, and Training Adaptations |
| title_short | Antioxidant Defense and Redox Signaling in Elite Soccer Players: Insights into Muscle Function, Recovery, and Training Adaptations |
| title_sort | antioxidant defense and redox signaling in elite soccer players insights into muscle function recovery and training adaptations |
| topic | mitochondrial biogenesis exercise-induced stress reactive species regulation training periodization injury prevention biomarker monitoring |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/815 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT qingmeng antioxidantdefenseandredoxsignalinginelitesoccerplayersinsightsintomusclefunctionrecoveryandtrainingadaptations AT chunhsiensu antioxidantdefenseandredoxsignalinginelitesoccerplayersinsightsintomusclefunctionrecoveryandtrainingadaptations |