Bilici, Omer FarukErkan, DilaraAlexe, Dan IulianTohanean, Dragos IoanDemir, CananAlexe, Cristina IoanaYildirim, Ulas Can2025-09-032025-09-0320252227-906710.3390/children120708092-s2.0-105011488121https://doi.org/10.3390/children12070809https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14720/28297Yildirim, Ulas Can/0000-0001-7767-8416Background: Adolescence is a critical period where exercise-induced oxidative stress is modulated by both training adaptations and hormonal changes, particularly the antioxidant effects of estrogen in females. However, data on how adolescent female athletes respond to long-term exercise remain limited. The aim of this study was to examine oxidative stress levels and some antioxidant defense parameters in adolescent female athletes who train regularly. Methods: The study included 20 adolescent female basketball players (16.65 +/- 0.67 years; 165.50 +/- 0.06 cm; 59.75 +/- 5.50 kg) with at least three years of training experience and 20 non-athlete adolescent female participants (16.80 +/- 0.69 years; 159.95 +/- 0.04 cm; 60.15 +/- 4.23 kg). Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT) levels were analyzed by a spectrophotometric method using a UV/VIS spectrophotometer in blood samples taken from all participants, and the data were compared between the groups. Results: The results showed that MDA levels were significantly lower in the athlete group (p < 0.01; d = 4.78). In addition, CAT activity was significantly higher in athletes compared to non-athletes (p < 0.01; d = 7.81). However, no significant difference was observed in GSH levels between the groups (p > 0.05; d = 0.15). A strong negative correlation was found between MDA and CAT (r = -0.900). Conclusions: These findings suggest that prolonged exercise reduces oxidative stress and enhances catalase-mediated antioxidant defense in adolescent women. Increased CAT activity and decreased MDA levels support this effect, while stable GSH levels point to the role of compensatory mechanisms.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessOxidative StressAntioxidantsAdolescentFemaleAthletesExerciseArticle127Q2Q240723002WOS:001540949900001