Eccentric Overload Muscle Damage is Attenuated By a Novel Angiotensin- (1-7) Treatment

The development of new strategies to attenuate exercise-induced muscle damage may be helpful for training regimens. The aim of this study was to determine whether a oral formulation of angiotensin Ang-(1-7)[HP beta CD/Ang-(1-7)] is effective to reduce pain, and muscle damage markers after eccentric-overload exercise. HP beta CD (Placebo) and HP beta CD/Ang-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7) group were treated for 7 days (one capsule/day). The pain was measured by visual analogue scale, maximal strength (MS) using force platform. Blood samples were collected for cytokines and creatine kinase (CK) analysis. The Ang-(1-7)-treated group reported less pain immediately (3.46 +/- 0.64 vs. placebo 3.80 +/- 0.77 cm) and 24h after exercise (3.07 +/- 0.71 vs. 3.73 +/- 0.58 cm placebo) and higher MS at 24 h (24 +/- 12 N) and 48 h (30 +/- 15 N)vs. placebo (-8 9 N and -10 +/- 9 N). The CK for Ang-(1-7) (0.5 +/- 0.1 and 0.9 +/- 0.2 U/L) were lower at 48 and 72 h vs. placebo (fold changes of 1.7 +/- 0.5 and 1.5 +/- 0.3 U/L). The INF-a level was lower in the treated group post-exercise (38 2.5 pg/ml) vs. placebo (45 +/- 2.9 pg/ml) but no significant changes were observed for IL-6 and IL-10. Our data indicate that treatment with Ang-(1-7) may attenuate pain, some of the muscle damage markers and improves performance following eccentric exercise.