EFFECT OF EIGHT-WEEK HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING (HIIT) AND CAFFEINE INTAKE ON SERUM LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN 2 AND 4 IN MALE DIABETIC WISTAR RATS

Cytokines are immune related factors. Production of pro inflammatory cytokines in diabetic patients is increased, which is exacerbated by vigorous training. This study investigates the response of serum IL-2 and IL-4 to eight-week high Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) with caffeine intake on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses in diabetic rats.

In a clinical-interventional animal study, 50 male rats were randomly assigned to 5 equal groups (control group (C), diabetes group (D), diabetes + caffeine group (D+Ca), diabetes + training group (D+T), diabetes + training + caffeine group (D+Ca+T)) and subjected to 8 weeks of caffeine supplementation (70 mg / kg of caffeine powder was injected five days each week) and 8 weeks of 5 sessions per week with 6 to 12 times, 2-min intervals with intensity of 85-90% of maximal speed. 48 hours after the last training session, immunological factors including IL-2 and IL-4 were measured. Statistical analysis of variables was performed using One-way ANOVA and Tukey tests at the significant level (P<0.05).

The results showed that (D+Ca) group had the lowest IL2 in comparison with (D) group (P= 0.001). IL-4 had the highest in (D+Ca) and (D+Ca+T) groups (P = 0.001). But these differences were not statistically significant between (D+Ca) and (D+Ca+T) groups (P= 0.67).

It seems that caffeine to play a role in improving the status of IL-2 and IL-4 in streptozotocin-induced diabetes, but HIIT exercises are not effective in this regard.