Effects of eight weeks resistance training on brain derived neurotrophic factor in female patients with multiple sclerosis

Neurotrophins like (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF) is thought to play an important role in neuronal repair. Recent experimental evidence noted that BDNF decrease in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and exercise may increases the level of this protein. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of eight weeks resistance training on BDNF in female patients with MS. Twenty seven female MS patients with 32.4 ± 5.5 years of old, and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) 1-5, participated in this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to control group (n=13) or training group (n=14). Subjects in training group performed selected upper and lower extremities resistance training with weight-training equipment and rubber bands 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The results showed that body weight, body mass index, body fat mass and EDSS were decreased 2.5, 3.4, 5.1 and 27.7 percentage respectively after eight weeks in training group compared to control group (P<0.05). BDNF also, increased significantly (27.5 percentage) in the training group compared to control group after eight weeks (1068.4 vs. 1362.7 pg.ml-1; P<0.05). The results suggest resistance training with specific intensity and duration utilized in this study improves EDSS and increases BDNF levels in female patients with MS.