Effect of 8 Weeks of Incremental Endurance Training on Antioxidant Enzymes and Total Antioxidant Status of Cardiac Tissue in Experimental Diabetic Rats

Introduction: Evidence suggests increased oxidative stress and improved total antioxidant status resulting from regular exercise in the heart tissue of diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of increasing endurance training on the levels of antioxidant enzymes and the total antioxidant status of the cardiac tissue of diabetic mice. Methods: In this experimental study, 24 Wistar male rats (aged 10 weeks and weighing 256±11.8 g) were divided into 4 groups of 6.The training program lasted for 8 weeks with increasing endurance training. It was measured 48 hours after the completion of the protocol levels of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase) and the total antioxidant status of rat heart tissue. One-way analysis of variance test was used for intergroup comparisons and Pearson test was used to investigate the relationship between indicators. Results: The results showed a significant difference in total antioxidant status, catalase and glutathione (P = 0.001) and were not significant in glutathione peroxidase (P = 0.240). Moreover, a follow-up test showed a significant increase in total antioxidant status and catalase (healthy exercise, healthy control, and diabetic exercise compared to diabetic control), Glutathione (healthy exercise (P = 0.001) and healthy control (P = 0.049) compared to diabetic control); (Healthy exercise (P = 0.003) compared to diabetic exercise. Finally, some correlations between antioxidant enzymes and total antioxidant status were significant. Conclusion: According to research results, increasing endurance training appears to increase levels of antioxidant enzymes and improve total antioxidant status, thereby it reduces oxidative stress in the heart tissue of diabetic mice.