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Associations of resting plasma adenosine triphosphate; antioxidant capacity; and oxidative stress biomarkers with cardiorespiratory fitness in combat sport athletes: a pilot cross-sectional study
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DOI：10.3389/fphys.2026.1863045.png)
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Abstract
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Background and study aimCombat sports involve repeated high-intensity efforts separated by short recovery periods; creating substantial demands on aerobic function and recovery. However; little is known about whether resting metabolic and redox-related biomarkers are associated with cardiorespiratory fitness in combat sport athletes. This pilot cross-sectional study examined the associations of resting plasma adenosine triphosphate (ATP); total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC); superoxide dismutase (SOD); malondialdehyde (MDA); and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) with maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and relative VO2max.Materials and methodsResting venous blood samples were collected once after at least 8 h of fasting and before a graded treadmill exercise test; no post-exercise samples were obtained. Cardiorespiratory fitness was evaluated using a graded treadmill exercise test; with VO2max; relative VO2max; respiratory exchange ratio; exercise heart rate; and exercise duration recorded. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics; Spearman and partial correlations; multiple linear regression; and decision tree modeling; with additional robustness checks using Bootstrap confidence intervals and permutation tests.ResultsTwenty-one combat sport athletes were included. Mean VO2max was 2937.19 ± 643.93 mL/min; and mean relative VO2max was 42.38 ± 8.80 mL/kg/min.s. T-AOC was strongly positively correlated with both VO2max (Spearman’s ρ = 0.723; p < 0.01) and relative VO2max (Spearman’s ρ = 0.678; p < 0.01); and these associations remained significant in partial correlation analyses adjusted for age; sex; height; and body mass. MDA was moderately correlated with relative VO2max (ρ = 0.454; p < 0.05). In multivariable models; T-AOC was the only biomarker significantly associated with VO2max and; together with MDA; was associated with relative VO2max. Partial correlation; decision tree; Bootstrap; and permutation analyses consistently supported T-AOC as the most stable signal across analytical approaches; suggesting that its association with cardiorespiratory fitness was not model-specific. By contrast; ATP; SOD; and GPX showed limited independent explanatory value.ConclusionsCombat sport athletes in this pilot sample demonstrated high cardiorespiratory fitness. In this pilot sample; resting T-AOC showed the most consistent positive association with VO2max and relative VO2max; while MDA showed an exploratory association with relative VO2max. Because biomarkers were measured once before exercise; these results represent baseline cross-sectional associations and do not establish causality; acute exercise responses; or recovery status. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Keywords:
VO2max
combat sport athletes
Cardiorespiratory fitness
Total antioxidant capacity
Malondialdehyde
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