Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Kosar University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran
2
Assossated Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
3
Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Humanity, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran
4
Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Humanity, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran.
10.22054/nass.2026.94681.1248
Abstract
Intense exercise such as circuit resistance training induces physiological stress and inflammation, potentially accelerating neutrophil apoptosis. This study investigated whether seven days of jujube supplementation could modify key apoptotic proteins in neutrophils following strenuous exercise. Fourteen healthy young men (mean age ~25 years) were randomly assigned to either a jujube supplementation group (0.5 g/kg/day) or a placebo group for seven days. After the supplementation period, all participants completed a circuit resistance protocol consisting of three rounds of nine exercises performed at 75% of one-repetition maximum. Blood samples were collected before exercise, immediately after, and two hours into recovery. Neutrophils were isolated, and the expression of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bid, and Caspase-9 proteins was measured using ELISA. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA to evaluate time and group interactions. Significant time-by-group interactions were observed for Bcl-2 (p = 0.004) and Bid (p = 0.005). In the jujube group, Bcl-2 levels increased and Bid levels decreased during recovery compared with placebo. No significant changes were found for Mcl-1 (p = 0.112). Caspase-9 also showed no statistically significant differences, although it approached significance (p = 0.091). Short-term jujube supplementation may attenuate exercise-induced neutrophil apoptosis by enhancing anti-apoptotic signaling and reducing pro-apoptotic markers during recovery. However, given the small sample size, further studies with larger and more diverse populations are required to confirm these findings and clarify their physiological significance.
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