Background: Resistance training and spirulina supplementation change the expression of genes involved in the antioxidant pathway. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance training and spirulina supplementation on the gene expression of some oxidative stress parameters in the heart muscle of male rats. Methodology: 32 male rats weighing 150±20 grams were divided into four groups, which included control (CO), resistance training (RT), spirulina (SP), and resistance training with spirulina (RTS). Spirulina was orally administered to rats in SP and RTS groups at a dose of 200 mg/kg per day. The training program was performed for healthy training groups 5 sessions per week for 8 weeks. The expression level of the dependent variables (SOD, CAT, GPX, and MDA) of the study was measured using the Real-time PCR method. We used of Two-way ANOVA in SPSS (P<0.05).
Findings: The level of SOD gene expression was significant in the supplement group (P=0.031), but in the resistance training groups (P=0.974) and the interaction of supplementation and training was not significant compared to the control group (P=0.093). The level of CAT gene expression in the supplement group (P=0.076), training (P=0.581) and the interaction of supplementation and training (P=0.127) was not significant. The changes in GPX gene expression were significant in the spirulina supplement group (P=0.032), but not significant in the training (P=0.326) and training and supplementation (P=0.104) groups. The level of MDA gene expression was significant in the spirulina supplement groups (P=0.009), while it was not significant in the exercise group alone (P=0.416) and the supplement with exercise group (P=0.051).
Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that the consumption of spirulina platensis supplement alone has an effect in reducing oxidative stress in the heart muscle of male rats.