Sport Biosciences

The Effect of Eight Weeks of Aerobic Exercise Combined with Royal Jelly Supplementation on BDNF, TrkB Gene Expression and Glycemic Markers in the Brain Tissue of Ovariectomized Diabetic Rats

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Milad Gharaibi 1
Dariush Sheikholeslami Vatani 1
Omid Reza Salehi 2

1 Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

2 Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

10.22059/jsb.2025.399887.1683
Abstract
Introduction: Cognitive impairments resulting from metabolic alterations in menopausal and diabetic conditions are among the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. While the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise and natural antioxidants such as royal jelly (RJ) on these impairments have been suggested, their combined influence on neurotrophins and brain metabolism remains poorly understood.

Methods: In this study, 37 ovariectomized diabetic rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: (1) diabetic ovariectomized control (OVX+DM), (2) sham, (3) endurance training (ET), (4) royal jelly supplementation (RJ), and (5) combined ET and RJ (RJ+ET). Additionally, seven healthy rats were included as a healthy control group (HC). ET was performed five days per week for eight weeks at an intensity of 55–75 percent of maximal running speed. RJ was administered daily at a dose of 100 mg/kg.

Results: Gene expression of BDNF, TrkB, and insulin was significantly reduced, while glucose levels were elevated in the OVX+DM group (P≤0.05). RJ and ET+RJ interventions significantly increased BDNF and TrkB expression and decreased glucose levels (P≤0.05). Insulin levels increased significantly only in the RJ+ET group compared to the OVX+DM group. Furthermore, BDNF and TrkB expression was significantly higher in the RJ+ET group compared to the RJ group alone (P≤0.05).

Conclusion: The combined intervention of aerobic training and royal jelly appears to exert synergistic effects on glycemic and neurotrophic indices, suggesting that concurrent use may be more effective than either intervention alone.

Keywords

Endurance Training
Diabetes
Neurotrophic factors
Ovariectomy
Glycemic indices
Subjects
Sport Biosciences
Volume 17, Issue 3
Autumn
Autumn 2025
Pages 71-86

  • Receive Date 12 August 2025
  • Revise Date 04 November 2025
  • Accept Date 06 November 2025

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