Regular Exercise Combined With Curcumin Supplementation: Protective Effects against Lead-Induced Cerebellar Oxidative Damage in an Animal Model

Lifestyle modifications, such as physical exercise and dietary supplements, are recommended as protective measures against some neurological disorders. We examined the effects of regular exercise combined with curcumin supplementation against lead-induced oxidative damage of the cerebellum in male rats. Experimental animals ( n = 50) were randomly divided into five groups. Lead acetate (20 mg/kg) was i.p. administered to three groups (except sham and control ones), while the sham group received ethyl oleate (30 mg/kg) three times per week. The curcumin and curcumin+exercise groups received curcumin (30 mg/kg) i.p. five times per week for eight weeks. The exercise program consisted of progressive running on a treadmill (speed from 15 to 22 m/min, 25 to 64 min per day, five times per week for eight weeks). Two days after the last application, the rats were euthanized; their cerebellum was removed and homogenized to measure the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARSs). Chronic administration of lead significantly increased the cerebellar TBARS levels but did not alter considerably the BDNF levels. Curcumin and curcumin+exercise treatments significantly lowered the cerebellar TBARS levels; a significant increase in the BDNF level was observed in the cerebellum of rats treated with combined intervention. Thus, regular exercise combined with curcumin supplementation may exert a significant neuroprotective effect against lead-induced cerebellar injury by attenuating oxidative stress and improving the brain state through an increase in the BDNF amount.