The Effect of Six Weeks Aerobic Training and Cinnamon Extract on Leptin Genes Expression in Liver Tissue of Obese Male Feeded by High Fat Diet

Given their effect on appetite and the ability to reduce energy intake and physical activity, serum leptin levels play a key and decisive role in controlling body weight and fat mass. Consumption of some anti-obesity plant compounds such as cinnamon can also be useful in reducing body fat mass and controlling obesity. This experimental study was aimed at determining the effects of six weeks of aerobic exercise (five days a week), consumption of cinnamon extract (200 mg per kg of body weight) and high-fat food (150 ml of high-fat food emulsion in excess of daily diet). Expression of leptin gene in the liver tissue of male rats fed a high-fat diet was performed in a multi-group research design with a control group. Real Time-PCR was used to evaluate the expression of the gene or mRNA of the proteins. Takara Viragen’s kit was employed to prepare PCR master mix for cDNA. The effects of high-fat diet, combination of high-fat diet and aerobic exercise, combination of high-fat diet and cinnamon and combination of high-fat diet, aerobic exercise, and cinnamon on leptin variable in liver tissue were considerable and significant so that high-fat diet caused adverse changes in the expression of this gene. Nevertheless, six weeks of exercise and consumption of cinnamon extract moderated the adverse effects of a high-fat diet and caused favorable changes in the expression of this gene and body weight and liver tissue weight. In addition, the combination of six weeks of exercise and cinnamon extract had far more favorable effects in modulating the adverse effects of diet on the expression of this gene. Hence, it is recommended to use cinnamon extract along with aerobic exercise.
 
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