The Effect of a Single Session of Resistance Exercise and Royal Jelly Supplementation on Plasma ICAM-۱ and VCAM-۱ Levels in Men with Coronary Artery Disease

Objective:Coronary artery disease (CAD) is closely associated with endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation, often characterized by elevated plasma adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-۱ (ICAM-۱) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-۱ (VCAM-۱). This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of a single session of resistance exercise and royal jelly supplementation on plasma ICAM-۱ and VCAM-۱ levels in men with CAD.Methods:Forty male patients with stable CAD (aged ۴۵–۶۵ years) were randomly assigned to four groups: resistance exercise with royal jelly (RE+RJ), resistance exercise only (RE), royal jelly only (RJ), and control (CON). Participants in the exercise groups performed eight resistance exercises at ۶۰–۷۰% of one-repetition maximum (۱RM) for ۴۵ minutes. Those in the RJ and RE+RJ groups consumed ۱,۰۰۰ mg of royal jelly one hour before the session. Blood samples were collected before and ۲۴ hours after the intervention, and ICAM-۱ and VCAM-۱ were analyzed using ELISA.Results:Significant reductions in ICAM-۱ (p = ۰.۰۰۱) and VCAM-۱ (p = ۰.۰۰۱) were observed in the RE+RJ group, with moderate decreases in the RE and RJ groups (p < ۰.۰۵), while no change occurred in the control group (p > ۰.۰۵). Between-group comparisons showed that the RE+RJ group achieved the greatest reductions (p < ۰.۰۱).Conclusion:A single session of moderate-intensity resistance exercise combined with royal jelly supplementation synergistically reduced endothelial adhesion molecules, suggesting enhanced vascular protection in patients with coronary artery disease.