High-protein diet associated with resistance training reduces cardiac TNF-α levels and up-regulates MMP-2 activity in rats

Abstract

The consumption of high-protein diets (HPD) is associated with resistance training (RT) due to effects on metabolism. However, little is known about these effects on cardiac tissue. This study aimed to investigate effects of HPD and RT on cardiac biomarkers. 18 rats were divided into normo-protein (NPD), and HPD groups: NPD-Control, NPD-RT, HPD-Control, and HPD-RT. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), nitric oxide (NO), activity of metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and vascular factor (VEGF) were analysed. RT was effective in regulating body weight, increasing strength, and reducing food consumption (p < .05). HPD induces higher levels of interleukin 6 (p = .0169), and lowers NO (p < .0001). When associated with RT, the HPD decreases levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha, while enhances NO, and MMP activity (p < .05). The association of RT with HDP decreases inflammatory parameters and indicates an enhancement in the molecular parameters of cardiac tissue.

Keywords:

• Protein source
• resistance training
• inflammation
• exercise

Acknowledgements

The authors thank to Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul for all support, and Mix Nutri Inovação Nutricional for providing the protein used in the feed. In addition, the authors thank Claudia Stela Medeiros for the technical support throughout the experiment.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Author contributions

Murilo Nogueira designed the study, wrote and revised the manuscript. Ivo Vieira Neto and Rita Marqueti performed the MMPs analysis and revised the manuscript. Daisy Mota-Santos wrote, revised, and supervised the statistical analysis. Ana Cantuária, Stella Lima, and Taia Rezende performed cytokines and nitrite analysis, and revised the manuscript. Hugo Santana and Bernardo Petriz designed, wrote and revised the manuscript. Jeeser Almeida performed all procedures, statistics, designed, wrote and revised all manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Fundação Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul – UFMS/MEC – Brazil and in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brazil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. The authors also are grateful for the financial support provided by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [CNPq-Universal 408534/2016–8]. Fundação de Apoio a Pesquisa do Distrito Federal (FAPDF) [Grant 193.001.452/2016].