Changes in Chemerin Level and Insulin Resistance in Rats with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Effect of High Intensity Interval Training and Portulaca Oleracea extract

the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and Portulaca Oleracea extract on chemerin level and insulin resistance in rats with NAFLD. Twenty five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: healthy control, fatty liver control, HIIT, Portulaca Oleracea extract, and HIIT+Portulaca Oleracea extract. To induce NAFLD, the rats were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. Portulaca Oleracea supplement at 400 mg/kg was given to the experimental groups. HIIT was performed for 8 weeks, 5 sessions per week with 7 repetitions of 1 minute at 90% maximum speed accompanied by active rest intervals including 2 minutes of running at 20% maximum speed. Hepatic chemerin level and insulin resistance were measured after 8 weeks of HIIT and consumption of purslane extract. Insulin resistance was significantly higher in fatty liver control group than healthy controls (P=0.002). But it was significantly lower in HIIT group (P=0.01), Portulaca Oleracea extract (P=0.037), and HIIT+Portulaca Oleracea extract group (P=0.012) than that in fatty liver control group. Chemerin levels in the HIIT group (p=0.01), Portulaca Oleracea extract (p=0.017) and HIIT+ Portulaca Oleracea extract (p=0.001) was significantly lower than the fatty liver control group. It seems that HIIT and Portulaca Oleracea extract can play an important role in controlling the progression of this disease by reducing the level of chemerin and insulin resistance in patients with NAFLD.