The Effects of Combining Aerobic Exercise with Cinnamon on FNDC5 / Irisin / UCP1 Pathway in Visceral Adipose Tissue of Insulin Resistant Rats

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has attracted interest as an antidiabetic tissue owing to its ability to dissipate energy as heat and improve glucose homeostasis. Possibly, mediating some exercise health benefits via ‘browning’ of white adipose tissue. Some plants also increase the activity of BAT. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise with cinnamon on the effective indicators in the browning of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in insulin - resistant rats.

In this experimental study, 32insulin - resistant male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Insulin Control (IRC), Training (IRT), Cinnamon (IRCi), and Training - extract - Cinnamon (IRTCi) were placed. The training protocol was performed for 8 weeks and 5 days a week with 75-80% VO2max. IRCi and IRTCi groups were injected with 200 ml / kg / day cinnamon extract. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test at the significant level p < 0.05.

A significant increase in the expression of FNDC5, UCP1, and the amount of irisin was observed in the IRT (P= 0.033, 92 percent; P= 0.027, 85 percent; and P= 0.040, 34 percent; respectively) and IRTCi (P= 0.0001, 188 percent; P= 0.0001, 171 percent; and P= 0.0001, 68 percent; respectively) groups compared to the IRC group. The expression of UCP1 in the IRCi group (P= 0.041, 80 percent) significantly increased compared to the IRC group. The increase of FNDC5, UCP1, and irisin was also significant in the IRTCi group compared to the IRT and IRCi groups     (P < 0.05).

Aerobic training and the combination of aerobic training with cinnamon increased the indicators affecting VAT browning. However, the effect of cinnamon alone needs more research.