The effect of resistance training intervention on serum levels of some anti-aging and rejuvenating proteins in older men

Introduction: exercise interventions can play an important role in delaying aging. Klotho protein and Growth Differentiation Factor 11 (GDF11) are a new family of biochemical theories of the aging process. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of resistance training on serum levels of Klotho anti-aging proteins and rejuvenating of GDF11 factor in elderly men. Method: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 elderly men (Age: 66/2±3/2) were selected voluntarily and purposefully as a statistical sample and randomly divided into experimental groups (n=15) and control (n=15). Participants in the experimental group performed resistance training for 12 weeks and three sessions per week. At the beginning and end of the study, a venous blood sample was collected to measure serum levels of Klotho and GDF11. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 24 and with dependent and independent t-test at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: After 12 weeks of resistance training, a significant increase in Klotho values (p=0.001) was observed. Also, there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the amount of Klotho (p=0.001). However, there was no significant difference in GDF11 values. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that long-term resistance training can increase the anti-aging factor of Klotho in older men. But it seems to not play a role in changes in the GDF11 rejuvenation factor. Therefore, further research is needed to provide more comprehensive opinions in this field.