Vitamin D Supplementation Combined With Aerobic Training Increases the Gene Expression of Antioxidants in Kidney Tissue in Healthy Middle-Aged Rats

Both exercise and vitamin D can affect oxidative stress indicators. However, their interaction at the level of kidney tissue has been less investigated. Hence, the main objective of the present study was to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation and aerobic training on oxidative stress markers in the kidney tissue of middle-aged male rats.

To conduct this study, 20 Wistar male rats )14–12 months and 350–400 grams (were randomly divided into four groups: control (CON), aerobic training (EXE), vitamin D (VD), and aerobic training + vitamin D (EXE + VD). The exercise consisted of 8 weeks of aerobic training (5 days/week). The VD and EXE + VD groups received vitamin D (500 units/kg) daily. Olive oil was also used as a placebo, and 48 hours after the last intervention session, animal tissues were removed. The gene expression of oxidative stress biomarkers, including catalase (CAT), manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and xanthine oxidase (XO) was measured by the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Data analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance test at the significance level of P < 0.05.

The results showed that the EXE + VD increased the gene expression of Mn-SOD, CAT, and GPx (P < 0.05) and decreased the expression of XO (P < 0.05). Furthermore, VD alone had no effect on the expression of antioxidant enzymes or XO (P > 0.05). Moreover, EXE increased CAT and Mn-SOD expression compared to the CON (P < 0.05) and decreased XO expression (P < 0.05). Additionally, CAT values in EXE were significantly higher than those in VD (P < 0.05).

According to the results of the present study, it seems that the VD + EXE can increase antioxidant defense and reduce oxidative stress in kidney tissue.