The effect of aerobic and interval training with the astaxanthin supplementation on cardiac biomarkers and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats

With the development of diabetes, natural products such as antioxidants are widely used to reduce the progression of diabetes. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the simultaneous effect of two exercise methods with astaxanthin supplement on the levels of cardiac biomarkers and insulin resistance of type 2 diabetic rats.

35 Wistar male rats were randomly divided into seven groups after induction of diabetes, including diabetic control, diabetes sham, diabetes+aerobic exercise+supplement, diabetes+ interval exercise+supplement, diabetes+interval, diabetes+aerobic, diabetes+supplement were included. Interval training for eight weeks with five sessions per week with an intensity of 80% vo2max and aerobic training with an intensity of about 65 to 75% Vo2max was performed on the treadmill. Supplementary groups received 3 mg of astaxanthin daily by gavage after each training session. Serum levels of NtproBNP and CTnT were measured with ELISA and insulin resistance was measured with HOMA-IR. One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze of the data.

Levels of NtproBNP and CTnT showed significant difference after eight weeks of combination of aerobic and interval training with supplementation as compared to the control group (P <0.05), but the differences compared to the supplementary group and both training methods were not significant (P >0.05). Insulin resistance in all groups except sham group showed a significant difference as compared to the control group (P <0.05).

The results showed that the combination of both exercise and supplement interventions may prevent diabetic cardiomyopathy due to their antioxidant effects by reducing oxidative stress damage, but was not associated with a dual strengthening effect.