Increased Serum Levels of the Antioxidant Enzymes (Superoxide Dismutase-3and Catalase) in Response to SCUBA Diving

Physical activity under high pressure such as scuba diving can cause oxidativestress. This study aims to investigate the effect of diving at a depth of 10 meters for 20 minutes on serumlevels of antioxidant enzymes in male divers.

In this quasi-experimental study, participants were 6 male divers who were selectedfrom the divers of the Red Crescent rescue team in Yasuj, Iran. First, blood samples were taken fromthe subjects. Then, in less than five minutes, they reached the desired depth (10 meters) and starteddiving for 20 minutes. When they began to come up the surface, they had a safety stop at a depth of 3meters for 5 minutes. When they reached the water surface, blood sampling was performed again immediately.Paired t-test was used for statistical analysis of data (P≤0.05).

After diving, a significant increase was reported in serum levels of catalase (P=0.009) and superoxidedismutase-3 (P=0.002), compared to the pre-test phase.

Scuba diving at a depth of 10 meters for 20 minutes increases the serum levels of catalaseand superoxide dismutase-3, which indicates the effect of diving on increasing the activity of antioxidantenzymes.