Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health

Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health

The Effect of Eight Weeks of Aerobic Training with Curcumin Consumption on AIF-1 and Cytochrome C in the Heart Tissue of Rats Exposed to Cadmium

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Abbas Arab Baladezaee
Habib Asgharpour
Akram Esfahaninia
Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Aliabad Katoul Branch, Islamic Azad University, Aliabad Katoul, Iran
10.22038/jnfh.2025.86205.1563
Abstract
Introduction: The occurrence of oxidative stress and cardiac apoptosis following cadmium (Cd) poisoning is one of the causes of heart diseases-induced mortality. Although the favorable effect of exercise and antioxidants on the heart has been reported; however, their simultaneous effect is not yet well understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic training (AT) with curcumin (Cu) consumption on apoptosis-inducing factor 1 (AIF-1) and cytochrome C (Cyt-C) in the heart tissue of rats exposed to Cd. Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats (8-10 weeks old, weighing 190-220 g) were divided into 5 groups including: healthy control (HC), Cd, Cd+Cu, Cd+AT, and Cd+Cu+AT. During eight weeks, the Cd groups received daily 5 mg/kg Cd dissolved in drinking water; Cu groups received 160 µL/kg orally and AT groups ran five sessions per week and each session for 30-60 minutes at a speed of 15 m/min on a 15-degree slope. Results: The AIF-1 and Cyt-C levels in the Cd+AT, Cd+Cu and Cd+AT+Cu groups were significantly lower than Cd group (P=0.001); in the Cd+AT and Cd+AT+Cu groups were lower than Cd+Cu group (P=0.001) and in the Cd+AT+Cu group were even lower than Cd+AT group (P=0.001). Conclusion: It seems that both AT and Cu appear to individually inhibit specific apoptotic genes. However, their synergistic effect on suppressing apoptotic markers in cardiac tissue following cadmium exposure is significantly greater than that of either substance alone.
Keywords
Exercise
Curcumin
Apoptosis
Heart
Cadmium
Subjects
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Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health
Volume 14, Issue 1
Winter 2026
Pages 32-39

  • Receive Date 18 February 2025
  • Revise Date 08 April 2025
  • Accept Date 13 April 2025