A review of the effects of resistance training and vitamin D on PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Subject Areas : Physical Activity and Health

Parisa Mokhtari ¹ , Mohammad Ali Azarbayjani ² , Maghsoud Peeri ³ , Saleh Rahmati ⁴

1 - Department of Exercise Physiology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Central Tehran Branch
3 - Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
4 - Department of Physical Education, Pardis Branch, Islamic Azad University, Pardis, Iran.

Received: 2023-10-17 Accepted : 2023-11-10 Published : 2023-10-23

Keywords: vitamin D, Resistance training, Muscle hypertrophy,

Abstract :

Skeletal muscle is a dynamic tissue and undergoes structural and functional changes in response to mechanical load, metabolic stress, drugs and diseases. The most prominent structural change of skeletal muscle is hypertrophy and atrophy. Resistance training is one of the most important interventions for muscle hypertrophy. By increasing the release of insulin hormones and insulin-like growth factor 1, these exercises activate the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in skeletal muscle and increase protein synthesis and muscle hypertrophy. Due to the presence of vitamin D receptor in skeletal muscle cells, this vitamin can affect muscle hypertrophy. The review of the studies that were searched from the scientific databases of PubMed, Science Direct, Springer and Google Scholar shows that vitamin D also causes muscle hypertrophy by activating the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. However, contrary to expectations, the combination of resistance training and vitamin D causes a slight increase in muscle mass and strength. Since the results of studies regarding the effects of the combination of resistance training and vitamin D on muscle hypertrophy are somewhat contradictory, more studies are needed regarding the effects of these two interventions on muscle structure and function.