Marzieh Fazel Najafabadi - Department of Sports Sciences and Sport Medicine Research Center, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
Saeed Keshavarz - Department of Sports Sciences and Sport Medicine Research Center, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
Seyed Ali Hosseini - Department of Sport Physiology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran
Elham Eftekhari - Department of Sports Sciences and Sport Medicine Research Center, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran

Introduction: This study aimed to review the synergistic effects of swimming training (ST) and cinnamon supplementation (Cin) on changing cardiac miR-۱۳۳a and miR-۲۱ in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: A total of ۳۲ diabetic rats were selected as ۱) ST+ Cin, ۲) Cin, ۳) ST and ۴) diabetic control (DC) groups, and eight healthy rats were selected as the HC group. Groups ۱ and ۳ swam three sessions per week and ۲-۲۲ minutes each session for eight weeks. Groups ۱ and ۲ received ۲۰۰mg/kg/day of aqueous Cin extract. qReal Time PCR method was used to measure the miR-۲۱ and miR-۱۳۳a gene expression in heart tissue. Results: MiR-۱۳۳a and miR-۲۱ gene expression in Cin, ST, and ST+Cin groups increased compared to the DC group (P=۰.۰۰۱), and miR-۱۳۳a gene expression in the ST+Cin group enhanced compared to Cin and ST groups (P=۰.۰۰۱). MiR-۲۱ gene expression in ST and ST+Cin groups increased compared to the Cin group. In addition, miR-۲۱ gene expression in the ST+Cin group raised compared to the ST group (P=۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: Although exercises lead to cardiac adaptations by creating oxidative stress, cinnamon can increase miR-۱۳۳a as a cardio-protective agent and modulate miR-۲۱ as a marker of cardiac damage. Therefore, cinnamon should be used along with exercises in cases of diabetes and heart disease.

Exercise, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, miR-۱۳۳a, miR-۲۱, Diabetes