Investigation of the effects of the curcumin supplement applied to the rats given exhaustive exercise on the antioxidant parameters and the lactate levels,

The present study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of the curcumin supplement applied to the rats given exhaustive exercise on the antioxidant parameters and the lactate levels. The study was carried out on 36 adult male Wistar Albino rats in the center for research on animal subjects. Experimental rats were divided into the following 6 groups having equal numbers of rats. Group 1: The Control group; Group 2: The group to which DMSO is given; Group 3: Curcumin control group; Group 4: Swimming control group; Group 5: The group which was given both curcumin (CUR) and swimming; Group 6: The group which is given both DMSO and swimming. The exhaustive exercises were performed in a swimming pool made of heat-resistant glass. The swimming exercises were performed in the form of one-time acute exercises. Following the completion of the applications, which lasted four weeks, GSH, SOD, CAT, MDA and lactate levels were determined in the blood samples taken from the experimental animals. When the serum MGA levels were compared among the study groups, Groups 4 and 6 were found to have the highest levels and to have significant differences from the other groups. Group 5 was also found to have significant differences from the other groups. When the SOD, CAT and GSH levels were examined, Group 5 was found to have the highest levels of those; and the SOD and GSH levels of the Groups 6 and 4 were found to be significantly different from those of the other groups. The SOD values of Group 1 and Group 3 were found to be significantly different from those of the other groups (Groups 4, 5, 6). The GSH level of the Group 3 was found to be significantly different from the GSH levels of the Groups 2, 4, 5 and 6. When the blood lactate levels were examined, it was found that the highest levels were in Groups 4 and 6; that blood lactate levels of these two groups were significantly different that those of the other groups (Groups 1, 2, 3 and 5); that there were significant differences between the values of Groups 1, 2 and 3 and those of the other groups (Groups 4, 5 and 6); and that there were significant differences between the value of Group 5 and the values of all other groups (Groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6) (P<0.05). When considered together, the results of the study suggest that curcumin supplement increases the antioxidant activity against the MDA levels increased as a result of exhaustive exercise, thus hindering the formation of free radicals, and that it delays fatigue by inhibiting the lactate levels. In the light of these results, it has been considered that using curcumin (CUR) with a daily dose of 50 mg/kg/day could be beneficial for the health and performance of athletes, and that, depending on the results of the further studies to be conducted on human subjects, physiologic doses of curcumin might be added especially to the diets of athletes.