The Long-Term Effects of Colostrum Supplementation and Sprint-Endurance Training on Plasma VEGF Levels in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Introduction: Bovine colostrum is an antioxidant material, however, its potential impact along with various methods of physical exercise on changes in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of colostrum supplementation and sprint-endurance training on plasma VEGF levels in male Wistar rats. Methods: In our study, 48 male Wistar rats were used. The rats were assigned into 6 groups (control, colostrum supplementation, aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise, colostrum supplementation-aerobic exercise, and colostrum supplementation-anaerobic exercise). Groups receiving colostrum were orally administrated 300 mg/kg/d bovine colostrum for 10 weeks. Training groups received sprint-endurance training, 3 times a week for a period of 10 weeks, with specified intensity and duration. In all the groups, blood samples were taken in the morning on an empty stomach 24 hours after the last training session. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 19 software and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S), one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey tests at α <0.05. Results: The findings showed that colostrum supplementation for 10 weeks with dose of 300 mg/kg significantly increased VEGF levels in all the study groups compared to the control group receiving normal saline (P<0.05). Moreover, colostrum supplementation along with sprintendurance training increased VEGF levels more effectively compared to other groups receiving sprint-endurance training along with normal saline. Conclusion: The findings indicated that intake of colostrum, as a strong antioxidant supplement having enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, along with sprint-endurance training for 10 weeks increased plasma VEGF levels, thereby playing a possible significant role in vascular angiogenesis.