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To the Editor: Strenuous physical exercise, when performed to the point of exhaustion, can generate free radicals that can cause muscle damage.¹ We have previously reported that xanthine oxidase, a free radical–generating enzyme involved in the ischemia-reperfusion syndrome, may cause damage associated with exhaustive exercise.² In this study, we tested whether allopurinol (a xanthine oxidase inhibitor) would affect markers of muscle damage among participants in a strenuous sporting event.

Methods

The Tour de France is a 3-week bicycle race that includes flat, mountain, and team trial tests. The latter is the most grueling, as each team member must try to produce his best possible individual time. The 9-member US Postal cycling team was randomly divided into 2 groups by drawing lots. One group of 4 participants was given a daily oral dose of 300 mg of allopurinol (an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase) 1 hour before each racing stage; the other 5 . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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