Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk

Abstract Sciatic nerve injury results in significant functional impairment and is associated with neuroinflammatory responses. While lithium and exercise have shown independent neuroprotective potential, their combined effects remain less explored. This study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of lithium, resistance training, and their combination on functional recovery and neuroinflammatory markers in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury. Twenty-five rats were randomly divided into five groups: Sham, Model (sciatic nerve injury), Model+Lithium, Model+Resistance training, and Model+Lithium+Resistance training. Lithium carbonate (10 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered for 5 days, and resistance training was conducted for 6 weeks, with both interventions starting 24 hours’ post-injury. Functional recovery was assessed using the beam walk test. Neuroinflammation was evaluated by measuring the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitric oxide (NO) in the cerebrospinal fluid at the end of the 6-week intervention period. Sciatic nerve injury (Model group) induced a significant deficit in beam test performance compared to the Sham group (p < 0.001). All treatment groups (Lithium, Resistance training, and Combined) showed significant improvement in functional scores compared to the Model group, with the Combined treatment group showing significantly greater recovery than either monotherapy (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the Model group exhibited a significant increase in MPO and NO levels. Resistance training alone and in combination with lithium significantly attenuated this increase (p < 0.0001). Interestingly, lithium monotherapy did not reduce the elevated neuroinflammatory markers. Our findings demonstrate that resistance training alone effectively reduces neuroinflammation and improves functional recovery after sciatic nerve injury. The combination of lithium and resistance training yields a synergistic effect, resulting in the most significant functional improvement, suggesting a promising combined therapeutic strategy for peripheral nerve injury.

Abstract This study investigated the effects of intense endurance training (HIET) combined with egg white and wheat germ supplementation on immune, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary function in endurance runners. In this quasi-experimental study, 24 male endurance runners from Saqqez City were randomly assigned to either a training + supplement group (n=12) or a training + placebo group (n=12). Both groups underwent 8 weeks of HIET (3 sessions/week, 60 min/session, 70-90% heart rate reserve). The supplement group consumed 15g egg white powder (75 kcal) and 17.5g wheat germ powder (78 kcal) daily, approximately 2 hours before training. The placebo group received starch powder. Cardiopulmonary function (VO2max, FEV1), cardiac biomarkers (NT-proBNP, left ventricular stroke volume - LVSV), and inflammatory markers (IL-6) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA (SPSS v26, α=0.05), controlling for baseline values. Significant improvements were observed in the supplement group compared to the placebo group for VO2max (F(1,21)=29.482, p<0.001, η²=0.510) and FEV1 (F(1,21)=60.308, p<0.001, η²=0.742). IL-6 levels decreased significantly in the supplement group relative to the placebo group, which showed an increase (F(1,21)=7.848, p=0.011, η²=0.272). No significant between-group differences were found for NT-proBNP (F(1,21)=3.627, p=0.071, η²=0.147) or LVSV (F(1,21)=0.061, p=0.807, η²=0.003). Eight weeks of HIET combined with egg white and wheat germ supplementation significantly enhanced maximal oxygen consumption and expiratory function while attenuating exercise-induced inflammation in endurance runners, compared to HIET alone. These findings suggest potential benefits of this supplement combination for improving cardiopulmonary performance and modulating immune responses during intense endurance training.