Exercise reduced plasmatic oxidative stress and protected the muscle of malnourished-recovering trained rats.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise training on the redox status of the heart, skeletal muscle, and the liver in previously malnourished rats. There were 3 Groups: (a) Control Group (n = 8, never malnourished); (b) Recovering Group (n = 8, malnourished for 28 days); and (c) Recovering Trained Group (n = 8, malnourished for 28 days and then exercised for 9 wks). The recovery period was not enough to restore body weight and exercise decreased body weight even further. Exercise reduced sulfhydryl levels and did not affect other blood metabolic parameters. Exercise also increased the catalase activity in skeletal muscle and carbonyl protein levels in the heart. Exercise decreased the TBARS level in the liver and heart. The recovery period was not enough to restore body weight after malnourishment. Exercise reduced plasmatic oxidative stress and protected the muscle from oxidative stress by elevating the catalase levels.