Background and purpose: Lung cancer is one of the chief causes for escalating mortality among female athletes. Oxidative stress in a cell is evident due to surplus production of oxidants because of the hysterical functioning of the system that regulates them. One such secondary product produced due to oxidative stress is malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation. To quench the effect of oxidants, an antioxidant system in the cell has a significant role. The imbalance between these two creates oxidative stress.

Methods: The present study focused on assessing the oxidative stress ratio and evaluating the levels of malondialdehyde and total antioxidant status (TAS) in breast cancer patients and healthy controls. Blood samples from breast cancer patients and age-matched controls (n= 30 each. MDA and TAS were estimated by pursuing Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance (TBARS) Assay and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) Assay respectively.

Results: The level of MDA in athletic patients was significantly higher (172.7 ± 81.4 nM/mL) than that of controls (77.9 ± 49.5 nM/mL) (p=0.009), whereas the level of TAS in the athletic patients (2551 ± 1298µM/L) was significantly lower to that of the controls (3631 ± 1123µM/L) (P=0.001). In addition, MDA and TAS levels correlated with respect to chemotherapy cycles in patients. Athletic Patients undertaking the final stage of chemotherapy treatment had shown reduced oxidative stress than the athletic patients in initial stage of chemotherapy, presenting a promising recovery pattern.

Conclusion: The oxidative stress was evident in athletic patients but the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs. Foods rich in antioxidants could elevate the health and morale of the athletic patients.