Changes in the oxidative stress of divers following a diet without fruits and vegetables

The increased oxidative stress is the basis of the pathogenesis of many socially significant diseases such as atherosclerosis, carcinogenesis, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, etc. Also, the effects of scuba diving on health are reflected through the oxidative stress, which may be caused by demanding physical activity, hyperoxia and exposure to cold temperatures. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, which are natural antioxidants. The aim of this study was to establish whether a disturbance in oxidative stress and antioxidant defense is observed in divers subjected to а diet without vegetables and fruits and how this affects the decompression risk. The study involved 20 divers. The indicators of oxidative stress (dROMs) and biological antioxidant capacity (antiROMs) were measured before and after conducting a strict diet without vegetables and fruits in a period of 5 days. The results show a statistically significant increase in oxidative stress after diet, but the reduction in antioxidant barrier has not shown a significant reduction, due to the short diet period, the available stocks and non-depletion of important antioxidant compounds in the body.