Effect of Sacubitril/Valsartan and Dapagliflozin on Cardiac Functions and Exercise Capacity of Rats

OBJECTIVE
Recent studies have demonstrated the positive effects of sacubitril/valsartan and dapagliflozin on cardiac prognosis and performance. These drugs have the potential to be misused as doping agents by professional athletes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sacubitril/valsartan and dapagliflozin on athletic performance.


METHODS
In this study, swimming performance was assessed in three groups of rats divided into control, sacubitril/valsartan, and dapagliflozin groups. Echocardiography, weight, and rotarod performance were also evaluated during follow-up.


RESULTS
In comparisons between the sacubitril/valsartan and control groups, a statistical difference was observed in the 13th, 19th, and 20th swimming sessions. For total and median swimming times, the P values were 0.115 and 0.015, respectively. In comparisons between the dapagliflozin and control groups, a statistical difference was observed starting from the 10th swimming session, with P values of < 0.001 for both total and median swimming times. In a three-group analysis, statistical differences were observed from the ninth swimming session until the end of the experiment. Additionally, rotarod results showed a significant difference for both sacubitril/valsartan and dapagliflozin compared to baseline (P < 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively).


CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated a limited positive effect of sacubitril/valsartan on athletic performance, while the impact of dapagliflozin on athletic performance was particularly significant.