The Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training on the Serum Levels of Adipulin and Irisin in Obese Male Rats with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Many studies agree on the beneficial effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The present study investigates the effect of eight weeks of high-intensity interval training on the serum levels of adipulin and irisin in obese male rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into groups including healthy control, control fatty liver, and HIIT fatty liver. To induce obesity/fatty liver, rats were treated with a high-fat diet for 10 weeks. Lee index was used to ensure disease induction. Rats in the training group performed the HIIT program on a rodent treadmill (8 weeks and 5 sessions per week). 48 hours after the last training session, blood was taken, and serum analysis was done by ELISA method.

A decrease was seen in serum irisin and adipulin levels in the fatty liver control group compared to healthy control (P = 0.001). The results indicated a significant increase in irisin serum levels in the HIIT-fatty liver group compared to the fatty liver control (P = 0.001). Also, no significant difference was observed between the HIIT-fatty liver and the healthy control groups (P < 0.05).

Irisin and adipulin increase are proposed as mechanisms of HIIT effect as a way to counter the harmful effects of obesity and fatty liver.