Changes Resulting From Resistance Training in the Ratio of Interferon-gammato Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 and Lipid Profile in Diabetic Rats

Diabetes is associated with an increase in inflammatory markers and developmentof atrophy and cardiovascular diseases. Studies have shown that resistance training at appropriateintensity can reduce inflammation generally. This study aims to investigate the effect of a progressiveresistance training (PRT) program on serum concentrations of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and insulin-likegrowth factor 1 (IGF-1) and lipid profile in rats with type 1 diabetes.

In this experimental study, 32 male Wistar rats aged 40 days and weighing 250±30g were divided into four groups of healthy control, healthy trained, diabetic control, diabetic trained.Streptozotocin (55 μg/kg per body weight) was injected intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. A 6-weekPRT protocol was performed, including climbing a ladder with weights at three sessions per week (onehour per day), where the load increased by 5% increase each week. Data were analyzed by ANOVA followedby Tukey’s post hoc test. The significance level was set at 0.05.

There was no significant difference in IFN-γ level between the diabetic trained group andother groups (P>0.05). The IGF-1 level in diabetic trained group was significantly lower than in thehealthy control and trained control groups (P=0.002). The ratio of IGF-1/IFN-γ in diabetic trainedgroup was significantly lower than in the trained control (P=0.003) and healthy control (P=0.008)groups. In assessing the lipid profile, the cholesterol level was higher in the diabetic trained groupcompared to the healthy control group (P=0.028). Moreover, triglyceride level was significantlyhigher in the diabetic trained group compared to the diabetic control (P=0.033), trained control(P=0.003) and healthy control (P=0.002) groups.

Six weeks of PRT cannot lead to desired efficacy in diabetic rats compared to non-traineddiabetic rats. However, the small changes such as increased IGF-1 and HDL levels and decreased serumglucose level, can help with the clinical improvement of patients with type 1 diabetes.