Oat Bran Reduces Serum Level Of Tumor Necrosis Factor - Alpha In Sedentary And Trained Rats

Abstract

Acute physical exercise is known to induce a pro-inflammatory cytokine profile in the plasma. On the other hand, studies have shown that exercise training induces decreased cytokine secretion by skeletal muscle and lymphocytes. Oat-containing diets are related with diminished plasma levels of inflammatory markers; however, the effect of this supplementation on exercise-induced inflammation is controversial. PURPOSE: To analyze the effects of oat bran intake on TNF-alpha serum concentration in sedentary and trained rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups: sedentary (S), sedentary receiving oat bran (SO), trained (T) and trained receiving oat bran (TO). Experimental chow was prepared from a commercial chow, which was added 30% of oat bran. Training protocol consisted in 60 minutes daily swimming, five days/ week, for eight weeks. TNF-alpha serum level was carried out by ELISA. RESULTS: TNF-alpha serum level was decreased in T (3.1-fold, p<0.05) and SO (50%, p<0.05), when compared to S. Moreover, TO showed TNF-alpha concentration minor than T (1.9-fold, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These data show that oat bran intake induces a reduction in TNF-alpha serum level both in sedentary and trained rats, showing a modulatory effect of oat bran on the profile of this cytokine. Furthermore, the association of oat bran intake and exercise was able to induce a synergic role in reducing TNF-alpha concentration. We conclude that oat bran has a potential anti-inflammatory effect and it is able to potentiate the training-induced anti-inflammatory effect.