The effect of resistance training with vitamin C consumption on TRF1 and CDK1 expression in skeletal muscle of elderly male Wistar rats

Telomere shortening causes intracellular signals that trigger programmed cell death. This study aimed to investigate the effect of resistance training with vitamin C consumption on Telomere Repeat-binding Factor 1 (TRF1) and Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1 (CDK1) expression in skeletal muscle of elderly male Wistar rats.

The present study was an experimental study with a control group. Twenty-five male rats (Wistar) aged 24 weeks (280-320 g) were randomly divided into 5 group; young control group, elderly group + resistance training, elderly group + liposomal vitamin C, elderly group + resistance training + liposomal vitamin C and old age control group. The duration of taking vitamins and doing exercise was eight weeks. Data analysis was performed at a significance level of α <0.05.

Aging significantly reduced CDK1 and TRF1 expression in skeletal muscle of rats (P = 0.001). Resistance training with vitamin C had a significant effect on CDK1 expression (P = 0.001). There was no significant change in TRF1 expression due to resistance training and vitamin C intake.

Eight weeks of resistance training with vitamin C supplementation consumption in elderly rats significantly increases CDK1 in skeletal muscle but it did not have a significant effect on TRF1. Therefore, it is recommended to use a higher dose of vitamin C.