Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2004, 203(4)

Short Report

Supplementation of Antioxidants Prevents Oxidative Stress during A Deep Saturation Dive

MAKOTO IKEDA, KAZUHIKO NAKABAYASHI, MASAHARU SHINKAI, YUKIHIKO HARA,¹ TAKAKO KIZAKI,² SHUJI OH-ISHI³ and HIDEKI OHNO²

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Undersea Medical Center, Yokosuka 239-0826,
¹Food Research Laboratories, Mitsui Norin Co., Ltd., Fujieda 426-0023,
²Department of Molecular Predictive Medicine and Sport Science, Kyorin University, School of Medicine, Mitaka 181-8611, and
³Fifth Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, Inashiki 300-0395

Conflicting views exist at the present regarding the influences of a deep saturation dive on liver function in divers. Therefore, we first reevaluated whether a deep saturation dive (400 msw) induces a hepatic disturbance. As the result, plasma activities of both transaminases (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) increased significantly, whereas cholinesterase (Ch-E) activity decreased markedly, being highly suggestive of liver dysfunction. Assuming that the liver dysfunction was attributable to oxidative stress, we next examined the effects of supplementation of antioxidants (600 mg of vitamin C, 150 mg of α-tocopherol, and 600 mg of tea catechins per day) on liver function in saturation divers. As was anticipated, the antioxidants taken appeared to prevent a hepatic disturbance, indicating that a deep saturation dive provokes liver dysfunction probably due to oxidative stress. Thus, we recommend that saturation divers should take supplements of antioxidants.

keywords —— saturation dive; hyperbaric hyperoxia; liver function; oxidative stress; antioxidants

© 2004 Tohoku University Medical Press

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Address for reprints: Hideki Ohno, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Molecular Predictive Medicine and Sport Science, Kyorin University, School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Sinkawa, Mitaka 181-8611, Japan.

e-mail: ohnoh2o@kyorin-u.ac.jp