Responses of Serum Levels of Neurotrophic factors to Carbohydrate Consumption during Aerobic Exercise Training in Adolescent Men's Futsal Players

Neurotrophic factors mediate the effects of physical activity on brain health and function. The aim of study was to study the effect of aerobic exercise in the form of treadmill running with and without carbohydrate supplementation on serum levels of BDNF, NT-3, NT-4 and IGF-1. In this semi-experimental study, 12beginner adolescent men’s futsal players in Khorramabad city (age: 17.13±0.64years; weight: 64.25±10.18kg; height: 172.88±5.59cm) voluntarily selected. Subjects performed 1hour of treadmill running with moderate intensity (60% heart rate reserve) in two sessions with carbohydrate supplementation and placebo, in a randomized cross-over design. Blood samples were obtained before first training session and 5min after training sessions. The serum BDNF, NT-3, NT-4 and IGF-1 concentrations were measured using an ELISA kit. Statistical analysis were performed by repeated measures test and the level of significance was set at p0.05). Also, there was no change in serum levels of IGF-1 (p =.099). One hour of aerobic exercise with moderate intensity with and without carbohydrate supplementation equally leads to increase serum levels of BDNF, NT-3 and NT-4. Therefore, it seems that in order to increase the effects of carbohydrate supplementation on serum levels of neurotrophins, duration/intensity of exercise, or both, or concentration of carbohydrate should be increased.