The Effect of Swimming Training with Curcumin Consumption on Superoxide Dismutase and Glutathione Peroxidase Levels in Alcoholic Rats’ Heart Tissue

Abstract

Background: Regarding the effects of excessive alcohol use on the heart tissue, the present study aimed at investigating the effect of swimming training and curcumin consumption on the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) proteins in the heart tissue of rats after withdrawal of binge alcohol consumption. Methods: Forty rats were selected to receive alcohol (25 w/v% ethanol) every eight hours for four days through intragastric gavage. Then, they left the alcohol consumption for seven days to be divided into five groups of eight including (1) control (C), (2) curcumin (CU), (3) swimming training (ST), (4) swimming training with curcumin (STC), and (5) sham (S). Groups 3 and 4 performed swimming exercises five sessions per week for two weeks and groups 2 and 4 received 50 mg/kg intraperitoneal curcumin five times per week for two weeks. Results: CU, ST, and STCU had no significant effects on the increase of SOD protein levels in rats after excessive consumption of alcohol (P ≥ 0.05). However, CU, ST, and STCU significantly increased the GPX protein levels of rats after excessive consumption of alcohol (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: It seems that swimming training and curcumin consumption can be simultaneously used during withdrawal of binge alcohol abuse in order to improve GPX protein levels.