The Effects of Saffron Supplementation on the Relation between Stress Proteins and Cytokines Following one Session of Strenuous Physical Activity in Male Mountain Climbers

• Published in: Human physiology 2023-12, Vol.49 (Suppl 1), p.S125-S132
• Main Authors: Bozorgi, F. J., Ghazalian, F., Dezhan, M., Naderali, M., Jafari, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Exercise; Heart rate; Heat shock proteins; Hsp70 protein; Human Physiology; Immune response; Inflammation; Interleukin 6; Life Sciences; Mountain climbing; Physical activity; Stress proteins; Supplements; Tumor necrosis factor-α
• ISSN: 0362-1197; 1608-3164
• DOI: 10.1134/S036211972360039X

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF α ) in one bout of strenuous physical activity with and without saffron supplementation in male mountain climbers. Participants were eleven male mountain climbers with 27–37 years of age. The physical activity session included running on a treadmill with 5% gradient for 45 min with 80–90% maximum heart rate. Blood samples were taken in three different times- before, immediately and one h after the physical activity—in order to measure HSP70, IL-6 and TNF α . After three days of recovery, participants started consuming 300 mg/d capsulated dried saffron stigma for10 days. The physical activity session was repeated and blood samples were again taken before, immediately and one h after it. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used for analysis of results (α = 0.05). TNF α has a considerably negative correlation with IL-6 immediately and one h after physical activity. TNF α showed a significantly positive correlation with HSP70 after supplementation. TNF α and HSP70 concentrations decreased following physical activity both before and after saffron supplementation and their increase was positively correlated to/with each other. Finally Ten days Saffron supplementation showed positive influences on mentioned immune responses after physical activity. Due to supplement’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in gredients, a positive correlation between TNF α and HSP70 happened immediately and one h after physical activity.