The Effect of Eight Weeks of Endurance Training and Ajwain Supplementation on Zip14 (Slc39a14) Gene Expression in the Small and Large Intestines of Male Wistar Rats.

Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC 4.0) license

Authors

1 Department of Physical Education, University of Saravan, Saravan, Iran

2 Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran

Abstract

Aim: Zinc (Zn) is an essential element for gastrointestinal function, and its homeostasis is regulated by transporters such as Zip14. Zip14 not only transports zinc but also iron and manganese, and its expression is influenced by inflammation. Intense endurance exercise can induce inflammation and oxidative stress, while supplementation with medicinal plants such as Ajwain seed, which is rich in zinc and has anti-inflammatory properties, may modulate these responses. This study aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks of intense endurance exercise and supplementation with aqueous extract of Ajwain seed on Zip14 gene expression in the small and large intestines of male rats.

Method: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control-saline (SC), exercise-saline (ST), control-Ajwain (ZC), and exercise-Ajwain (ZT). The exercise groups ran on a treadmill for 8 weeks (5 days/week, 60 minutes/day at a speed of 32 m/min). The supplementation groups received daily doses of aqueous Ajwain extract (200 mg/kg). Relative Zip14 gene expression was measured in the small and large intestine tissues.

Results: Zip14 gene expression in the small intestine was significantly affected by the treatments (P=0.006). Specifically, Zip14 expression in the ZT group was significantly lower than in the ST group (P=0.005). Conversely, no significant changes in Zip14 expression were observed in the large intestine (P=0.09).

conclusion: Training combined with Ajwain supplementation led to a significant downregulation of Zip14 gene expression in the small intestine, whilst having no significant effect on the large intestine. This finding suggests tissue-specific and intervention-dependent regulation of Zip14

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Research in Exercise Nutrition
Volume 3, Issue 3
May 2024
Pages 50-39

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History

  • Receive Date: 02 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 26 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 26 May 2025
  • First Publish Date: 26 May 2025

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