Bilici, Omer FarukErkan, DilaraAlexe, Dan IulianTohanean, Dragos IoanDemir, CananAlexe, Cristina IoanaVoiculescu, Virgil Ene2026-04-252026-04-2520252227-9067https://doi.org/10.3390/children12070809https://hdl.handle.net/11486/8582Background: 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 stressantioxidantsadolescentfemaleathletesexerciseArticle12710.3390/children12070809407230022-s2.0-105011488121Q2WOS:001540949900001Q20000-0002-4204-97560000-0003-0774-08480000-0001-7424-77410000-0001-7767-84160000-0002-2403-48410000-0002-6740-18670000-0002-6396-761X