Introduction: Aging is accompanied by immunosenescence. This study investigated the effects of capsaicin and swimming exercise on the biomarkers of this process in aging male rats..
Methods: Twenty-four aged male Wistar rats (21 months old) were randomly assigned to four groups (n=6): Control , Capsaicin (5 mg/kg/day) , Concurrent Swim Exercise, and Combination (Capsaicin + Exercise). A 10-week progressive concurrent swim exercise (interval-aerobic) protocol was implemented. Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum and thymus tissue were measured by ELISA. Data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by Tukey's test.
Results: All intervention groups showed significant reductions in body weight gain, serum IL-6, TNF-α, and thymus MDA levels compared to the Control group (P<0.05). The reductions in these biomarkers were significantly greater in the Combination group compared to either intervention alone, indicating a synergistic effect (P<0.05).
Discussion: The concurrent administration of capsaicin and swim exercise synergistically attenuates key inflammatory and oxidative stress markers associated with immunosenescence in aged rats. This non-pharmacological combinatory approach may represent an effective strategy for mitigating age-related immune dysfunction and promoting healthy aging. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and assess translational potential.