This study was designed to evaluate biomarkers of oxidative stress in rats with or without aerobic exercise during recovery from protein malnutrition. From the 30th to the 90th day of life, male Wistar rats were fed a low protein diet (LP + 6%) followed by a normal protein diet (NP = 17%) until the 120th day and separated in two groups: sedentary (S) and exercise trained (E = swimming 1h/day, 5 days/week, with from the 90th to the 120th day). Rats fed a normal protein diet were used as controls. Results showed that physical exercise had beneficial effects on body weight gain during nutrition rehabilitation. Erythrocytes catalase and glutathione reductase (biomarkers of the antioxidant system) were significantly reduced in all groups in comparison to the sedentary control group. The plasma concentration of TBARs (biomarkers of the oxidative damage) was also lower in the recovered rats, suggesting that the improvement in body growth after nutritional rehabilitation with physical exercise could be related to a decrease in the oxidative stress level.
Protein malnutrition; nutritional recovery; exercise; oxidative stress
