Effect of High-intensity Interval Training and Genistein on Antioxidant Capacity in the Heart Tissue of Elderly Rats

Aging can lead to a decrease in cardiac function and an increase in oxidative stress in the heart, which leads to cellular aging through mitochondrial dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and genistein (Ge) consumption in the heart tissue of elderly rats.

In this experimental study, 30 female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 18 to 24 months were selected and divided into five groups of six rats, including 1) HIIT, 2) Ge, 3) HIIT + Ge, 4) control, and 5) sham. During eight weeks, groups 2 and 3 received 60 mg of Ge dissolved in DMSO per kilogram of body weight daily, and group 5 received 60 mg of DMSO per kilogram of body weight per day intra-peritoneally. In addition, groups 1 and 3 ran on the treadmill three times per week. For statistical analysis of data, Shapiro-Wilk, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's post-hoc test were used.

High-intensity interval training had a significant effect on increasing GPx and MDA (P<0.05), Ge led to a significant decrease in SOD (P<0.05); however, HIIT with Ge had not interactive effects on improving SOD, GPx, and MDA (P<0.05).

It seems that the antioxidant system is dependent on the intensity of exercise and the dose of genistein. Therefore, HIIT and Ge in this study have no interactive effect on the oxidant-antioxidant system in the heart of elderly rats.