Potential ergogenic effects of L-arginine against oxidative and inflammatory stress induced by acute exercise in aging rats.
In this study, we report protective effects of dietary L-arginine (L-Arg) supplementation against oxidative stress and inflammation in aging rats during exhaustive exercise. Thirty 18-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sedentary control (SC); sedentary control with L-Arg treatment (SC+Arg); exhaustive exercise (E); and exhaustive exercise with L-Arg treatment (E+Arg). Rats in groups SC+Arg and E+Arg received a 2% L-Arg diet. Rats in groups E and E+Arg performed an exhaustive running test on a treadmill. The mean duration of exercise differed significantly between groups E and E+Arg (51+/-6 versus 63+/-3min). Results showed significant increases in xanthine oxidase (XO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and in lipid peroxidation end-product (malondialdehyde, MDA) levels of myocardial, muscular, hepatic, pulmonary, and renal tissues of exercised rats compared with SC and SC+Arg rats. The increased XO and MPO activities and MDA levels significantly decreased in exercised rats that were fed a diet supplemented with L-Arg. We also found that L-Arg supplementation prevented exhaustive exercise-induced elevations of plasma aminotransferase activity, and lactate and uric acid levels in aging rats. These findings suggest that L-Arg supplementation enhances exercise capacity and protects against oxidative damage and inflammatory responses caused by exhaustive exercise in aging rats.
Huang
Chi-Chang
CC
Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Tsai
Shiow-Chwen
SC
Lin
Wan-Teng
WT
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D007249:Inflammation; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D019344:Lactic Acid; D001120:Arginine; D009195:Peroxidase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase