Aerobic Exercise Increases the Damage to the Femoral Properties of Growing Rats with Protein-Based Malnutrition

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of aerobic physical training on the femoral morphological, densitometric and biomechanical properties in growing male rats subjected to protein-based malnutrition. Four-week-old male Wistar rats were randomized into groups of 10 animals: Control Sedentary (CS), Control Trained (CT), Malnourished Sedentary (MS) and Malnourished Trained (MT). Control and malnourished animals received diets with 12% protein and 6% protein, respectively. The trained groups were submitted to a treadmill running program for 8 weeks. Total proteins and albumin were analyzed in the animals' blood plasma. Histological, densitometric and biomechanical analyzes were performed on the animals' femur. Body mass gain, physical performance, biochemical markers and the femoral morphological, densitometric and biomechanical properties were determined. Exercise tolerance increased in trained groups. Malnourished animals exhibited lower serum protein and albumin levels than controls. Porosity and HIGHLIGHTS  Malnutrition damages the biomechanical and densitometric properties of the femur. Aerobic exercise reduces maximum femoral load until fracture in malnutrition. Aerobic exercise increases the damage to BMC and BMD established by malnutrition. 2 Miranda, D.C.; et al.