α-Tocopherol Protects the Heart, Muscles, and Testes from Lipid Peroxidation in Growing Male Rats Subjected to Physical Efforts

Abstract EN

The effect of α-tocopherol supplementation on adaptation to training is still equivocal.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of training and α-tocopherol supplementation on α-tocopherol and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentration in the rat liver, heart, muscles, and testes.

Male Wistar rats (n=32) were divided into four groups (nonsupplemented, not trained—C; nonsupplemented, trained—CT; supplemented, not trained—E; supplemented and trained—ET).

During the 14-day experimental period, 2 mg/d of vitamin E as α-tocopherol acetate was administered to the animals (groups E and ET).

Rats in the training group (CT and ET) were subjected to 15 minutes of treadmill running each day.

The α-tocopherol levels in rat tissues were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Lipid peroxides were determined by TBARS spectrophotometric method.

α-Tocopherol had a significant impact on α-tocopherol concentration in all tissues.

Training increased the α-tocopherol concentration in the heart and muscles but reduced it in the liver.

Training also caused increased lipid peroxidation in the muscles, heart, and testes; but a higher α-tocopherol content in tissues reduced the TBARS level.

The main finding of the study is that impaired α-tocopherol status and its adequate intake is needed to maintain optimal status to prevent damage to the skeletal and cardiac muscles as well as the testes in growing individuals.