Oxidative stress in the liver of exercised rats supplemented with creatine

Abstract

This study examined the effects of aerobic training and creatine supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative stress in the liver of rats. Ninety-day-old adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: 1) Trained Supplemented (TS), 2) Trained (T), 3) Control Supplemented (CS) and 4) Control (C). Trained rats ran on a treadmill for 40 min a day, 5 days a week, at a speed equivalent to their individual Maximal Lactate Steady State (MLSS) for 8 weeks. Supplemented rats received creatine monohydrate 5 days a week at a dose of 1.5 g/kg body weight by gavage for 8 weeks. Liver concentration of creatine was higher in group C than in the other groups. The amount of thiobarbituric acid (TBARs) was higher in the CS and C groups than in the trained groups, TS and T. Catalase activity (CAT) was higher in the CS and C groups than in the TS and T groups. There was no significant difference between groups in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). The results of this study suggest that physical activity decreases membrane lipid peroxidation in the liver of rats independently of creatine supplementation. In the present study, this adaptation was not associated with the components of the antioxidant system. Key words: Biomarker, enzyme, treadmill running, training.