Co-administration of vitamin C or estradiol with aerobic exercise on liver oxidative stress and enzymes in ovariectomized rat

Abstract

Background: Estrogen insufficiency during postmenopausal life may be the reason of serious metabolic disturbances including oxidative stress that can effect on liver status. It is important to properly assess the benefits of antioxidant therapy and exercise on liver status in menopausal females. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of co-administration of vitamin C or estradiol with aerobic exercise on liver oxidative stress of ovariectomized rat. Materials and methods: Thirty-two ovariectomized female rats were divided into four groups, consisting of sham (Sh), exercise (Ex), exercise + vitamin C (Ex + VitC), exercise + estradiol (Ex + Es). The dose of vitamin C was 250 mg/kg/day that injected three times a week for 6 weeks. The dose of estradiol was 0.25 mg/kg/week that injected for two first weeks. Exercise group performed aerobic exercise on a treadmill at low-moderate intensity (55 VO2max) 5 days/week for 6 weeks. Liver oxidative damage was determined by the serum and liver tissue levels of nitrite and malondialdehyde (MDA), and the serum levels of alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST). Results: Ovariectomy led to increase in body weight and uterus atrophy. The liver level of nitrite and MDA in Ex group was significantly higher than Sh, Ex + Es and Ex + VitC groups (P < 0.05). The serum level of ALT in the Ex + Es group was significantly lower than the Ex + VitC group (P < 0.05), while the serum level of AST in the Ex + Es group was significantly lower than other groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Aerobic exercise could not attenuate oxidative stress in liver of OV rats; however, administration of vitamin C or estradiol improved partly oxidative stress in liver of OV rats. © 2017, Springer-Verlag Italia.