Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training with Eryngium Campestre on Lipid Profile and Glycemic Indices in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats

Obesity is a multi-factorial physical disorder that results in high serum lipid levels and glycemic disorders. On the other hand, regular exercise and administration of Eryngium Campestre (EC) have glucose and lipid-lowering effects.

The present study aimed to review the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with EC on lipid profile and glycemic indices in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats.

Twenty-four obese rats were divided into four groups, including: (1) control, (2) HIIT, (3) EC, and (4) HIIT+EC. To investigate the effect of obesity on research variables, six rats were assigned to a healthy control group. During six weeks, groups 2 and 4 received HIIT three days per week, and groups 3 and 4 received 30 mg/kg EC by gavage. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test and one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test (P ≤ 0.05).

Obesity significantly increased cholesterol (Cho), triglyceride (TG), insulin, and glucose levels (P ≤ 0.05). However, HIIT significantly decreased Cho, TG, insulin, and glucose levels (P ≤ 0.05), and EC significantly decreased Cho, TG, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), insulin, and glucose levels (P ≤ 0.05). Besides, HIIT+EC significantly decreased LDL and insulin (P ≤ 0.05). HIIT+EC could decrease LDL more than did HIIT (P ≤ 0.05).

Although HIIT and EC alone improved the lipid profile and glycemic indices in obese rats, HIIT combined with EC had greater effects on the decrease of LDL compared to HIIT.