The effects of 8 weeks aerobic training and intermittent hypoxia on lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity in male Westar rats

Background: Oxidative stress disrupts the redox balance and induces various diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate about the effects of 8 weeks aerobic training and intermittent hypoxia on lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity in male Westar rats.

Methods: Forty male Wistar rats weighing 220+20 were randomly divided into four groups of: control (C), hypoxia (H), Hypoxia+ training (H+T) and training (T) groups, namely. Hypoxia group was exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia. And the exercise group ran on a treadmill (22-26 meters per min) for 8 weeks, 5 session/ weeks. After the 8 weeks of the running, blood samples of the subjects were taken. Data were analyzed by using Anova and Tukey statistical tests at the significant level of P≤0.05.

Results: The results showed that MDA index in the training group was significantly lower than the other groups (P= 0/001, F= 19 .634). But, no significant differences were observed between control group with hypoxia (P= 984.0), combination of (H) with (T) group (P =824.0), and (H+T) with (C) group (P= 997.0). Also, TAC capacity in the training group was significantly higher than the other groups (P= 0.001, F= 7.388). However, there was no significant difference observed between the control group with hypoxia (P= 0.368) and (H+T) with (C) group (P= 0.996), and the combination of (H+T) with (H) group (P= 0.837).

Conclusion: It seems that moderate intensity exercise training will lead to a redox balance compared with other stimuli and will prevent oxidative stress.