Free-radical processes and the antioxidant system in the realization of the recovery function of sleep

The somnological status of test subjects was assessed. The content of malonic dialdehyde, total peroxidase activity, and concentration of uric acid, urea, and total protein in the saliva of students with insomnia and age-matched (20- to 23-year-old) healthy students were determined during everyday studies and summer exams. It was found that emotional (examination) stress intensifies free-radical processes and leads to a compensatory increase in the activity of the nonenzymatic antioxidant system in the saliva of students. Insomnia is accompanied by an increased level of free-radical processes and increased total protein content in the saliva of test subjects. The recovery anabolic function of sleep is realized via activation of protein synthesis and involvement of low-molecular-weight nonenzymatic antioxidant compounds (uric acid and urea) in the defensive responses of the body under conditions of a significant increase in the intensity of free-radical processes during examination stress combined with insomnia.