Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training and Portulaca Oleracea Extract Supplementation on FGF-21 Level and Insulin Resistance in Rats with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and Portulaca Oleracea extract on FGF-21 levels and insulin resistance in rats with NAFLD.

Twenty male Wistar rats at six weeks old and 160 to 185 g weight were randomly divided into four groups: fatty liver control, HIIT, Portulaca Oleracea extract, and HIIT+Portulaca Oleracea extract. According to the weight of the mice, Portulaca Oleracea supplement with a dose of 400 mg/kg was given to the two respective groups. The HIIT training protocol was performed for 8 weeks, 5 sessions per week, and each session was performed at 80-90% of maximum speed. Hepatic FGF21 level and insulin resistance were measured after 8 weeks of HIIT training and consumption of purslane extract. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test were used to compare groups at a significance level of p<0.05.

Insulin resistance in HIIT (P=0.005), Portulaca Oleracea extract (P=0.011), and HIIT+Portulaca Oleracea extract (P=0.002) groups were significantly lower than fatty liver control group. The level of liver FGF-21 in the HIIT (p=0.023), Portulaca Oleracea extract (p=0.005) and HIIT+ Portulaca Oleracea extract (p=0.001) groups was significantly higher than the fatty liver control group.

It seems that HIIT and Portulaca Oleracea extract could improve insulin resistance in NAFLD by increasing FGF-21 levels and can play an important role in controlling the progress of this disease.