The Effects of Aerobic Training in Polluted Air and Vitamin C Supplementation on Serum Levels of Endothelin-1 and Nitric Oxide in Wistar Rats

There is little information on the effects of exercise in polluted air and vitamin C intake on plasma factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of twelve weeks of aerobic training in polluted air and vitamin C supplementation on serum levels of endothelin-1 and nitric oxide in Wistar rats.

50 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups of training, training-supplementation, training-pollution, training-pollution-supplementation, and control. Training protocol consisted of aerobic training for 40 minutes with intensity of 65%-80% of maximal speed for 12 weeks and 5 sessions per week. The amount of vitamin C consumed in each rat was 20 mg/kg/day used orally. Plasma levels of endothelin-1 and nitric oxide were measured at the end of the study. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance.

Endothelin-1 levels significantly increased in polluted air groups; vitamin C was able to decrease endothelin-1 levels (P < 0.05). The level of nitric oxide increased significantly in training in polluted air groups. These results were significantly different from the training-pollution-supplementation group (P < 0.05).

According to the results of this study, vitamin C intake is effective in decreasing plasma levels of endothelin-1 during exposure to air pollution. The effect of exercise and polluted air on nitric oxide was significant, and vitamin C alone reduced nitric oxide in training in polluted air group.