Introduction: Beetroot is a nutritious food in the food industry, but its importance is not well known among athletes. This natural supplement can effectively enhance and control immunity factors, lipid peroxidation, cellular protein carbonylation, and counteracting oxidative indices. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance training and beet juice supplementation on CRP, LOOH, and PC in male rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 48 Vistar male rats (8-10 weeks of age) were first familiarized with the new environment, and then assigned randomly to four groups (n = 12, 210 ± 20 g): resistance training, resistance training + supplement, supplement, and placebo. The exercise protocol was designed with an intensity of 70-75% of rat weights and continued increasingly for 8 weeks, with four sessions a week. Beetroot juice in supplement and supplement + resistance training groups was provided as gavage with a dose 8 mg/kg/bw. Blood samples were collected immediately after the last training session with similar conditions. One-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni test were used to determine the significance of the changes (P ≤ 0.05).
Results: After 8 weeks, significant reductions were observed in values of CRP (P = 0/05), LOOH (P = 0/001) and PC (P = 0/004) in the resistance training + supplement and supplement groups.
Conclusions: The results of this research showed that adaptation to the protocol of training and beet juice supplementation could exert its antioxidant effects by reducing CRP, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonylation hence this supplement can be used to improve the immune system.
