Background and Objective: Reports indicate that over 60% of people with diabetes die from cardiovascular diseases. The present study was conducted to investigate the interactive effects of resistance training and genistein consumption on the serum levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in diabetic rats with streptozotocin.
Material And Methods: In this experimental study, 40 diabetic rats were selected and divided into 5 groups of 8 subjects, including: (1) control, (2) sham (dimethyl sulfoxide), (3) resistance training (4), genistein consumption, and (5) resistance training and genistein consumption. Rats in groups 3 and 5 received 8 weeks of resistance training, 3 sessions per week, with 30 to 100% body weight, and rats in groups 4 and 5 received 30 mg/kg of peritoneal genistein per day. Data were analyzed using independent sample t-test and two-way ANOVA in SPSS software (p≤0.05).
Results: Genistein consumption has a significant effect on reduced serum levels of VCAM and ICAM in diabetic rats (p≤0.05). Eight weeks of resistance training has a significant effect on reduced serum levels of ICAM and CRP in diabetic rats (p≤0.05). Resistance training and genistein consumption have interactive effects on reduced serum levels of VCAM and CRP in diabetic rats (p≤0.05).
Conclusion: Resistance training and genistein consumption simultaneously appear to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis in diabetic rats.