The effect of endurance and resistance exercises and consumption of hydro-alcoholic extract of nettle on the changes in weight and plasma levels of nesfatin-1 in type 1 diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic diseases and nettle is a plant that has been introduced as an anti-diabetes medication. Nesfatin-1 is an adipokine secreted from an adipose tissue and involved in the mechanism for glucose metabolism. This study aimed at examining the effect of an 8-week endurance and resistance training program along with the consumption of the hydro-alcoholic extract of nettle on plasma levels of nesfatin-1 in type 1 diabetic rats. In this study, Wistar rats were divided into four groups and diabetes was induced in them by streptozotocin. The nettle extract (1mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected daily in the "nettle", "endurance+nettle" and "resistance+nettle" groups. The "endurance+nettle" group swam in water for eight weeks, five sessions per week, and each session from 60 to 120 minutes. The "resistance+nettle" group began the exercise with 50, 75, 90, and 100 percent weight on the designed ladder, and then they gradually increased their record. Blood samples were taken directly from the hearts of the animals at the end of the 8th week. Weight loss was observed in all groups after 8 weeks. The least amount of weights in the "control", "nettle" and "resistance+nettle" groups were significantly lower than those in the beginning of the study (P<0.001). The results showed a significant increase in nesfatin-1 in the "nettle" group compared to the "control" group (P<0.01). Also, this increase was observed in the "endurance+nettle" and "resistance+nettle" groups compared to the "control" group (P<0.001). Consumption of the nettle extract with exercise can increase the plasma nesfatin-1, which can be effective in controlling diabetes and preventing weight loss due to this disease.