نشریه مطالعات کاربردی علوم زیستی در ورزش
پیاپی 27 (پاییز 1402)

Diabetes can causes disturbances in glucose homeostasis and negative changes in the heart muscle. Since physical activity in people with diabetes may affect the heart tissue, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on content of FOXO3, PI3K and AKT proteins in the heart tissue of Wistar rats with type two diabetes.

In the present study, 36 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: diabetes - control, diabetes - exercise, control – healthy, and exercise - healthy. After two months of high-fat diet and induction of diabetes by Streptozotocin (35 mg/kg) in diabetes-control and diabetes-exercise groups, the animals in diabetes-exercise and exercise-healthy groups performed the HIIT protocol based on a percentage of Vmax achieved, that it was with two-minutes intervals and increasing number of intervals for eight weeks and five sessions per week. 48 hours after the last training session, cardiac tissue was extracted and the content of FOXO3, PI3K and AKT proteins were assessed using Western blotting. In addition, a histological study was performed at the tissue level using hematoxylin and Eosin staining. To analyze the data one-way analysis of variance and Tukey tests were used at a significance level of p<0.05.

The content of FOXO3 protein in diabetic groups significantly increased compared to healthy groups (p=0.001). In addition, the content of PI3K and AKT proteins in diabetes-control group also significantly decreased compared to healthy groups (p=0.001 and p=0.009, respectively), while the content of these two proteins significantly increased after training (p=0.01 and p=0.001, respectively). Moreover, at the tissue level of heart, the thickness and length of cardiac myocytes significantly increased due to diabetes (p=0.001); while after HIIT, this pathological hypertrophy reduced (p=0.02 and p=0.01, respectively).

Finally, it can be stated that although the use of this training method did not show a change in the amount of FOXO3 protein, but it was able to increase the amount of PI3K and AKT proteins and improve the pathological hypertrophy caused by diabetes.

Asprosin where secreted from adipose tissue plays a key role in regulating glucose metabolism and appetite, and could be a therapeutic target for the prevention of diseases such as obesity, type II diabetes, and insulin resistance. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on serum Asprosin and lipid profile in overweight and obese women.

Thirty overweight and obese women (BMI≥28) with an age range of 30-45 years were purposefully selected in a quasi-experimental research with pre - test to post-test design. They randomly divided into two groups including 15 subjects in every HIIT and control group. The protocol was included preparation period for two weeks, eight weeks for the HIIT, and also they performed three sessions per week with 100% maximum reserve heart rate. Blood samples were taken before and 48 hours after the last training session (following 10 weeks of training). The amount of Asprosin and lipid profile were measured by ELISA and spectrophotometry methods respectively. Data were analyzed using Independent t-test and paired sample t-test at a significant level of p<0.05.

After 10 weeks of intervention, HIIT group showed a significant decrease in amount of Asprosin (p=0.02), triglyceride (p=0.01), total cholesterol (p=0.01), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p=0.01), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p=0.01), weight (p=0.0001), fat percentage (p=0.0001) and BMI (p=0.0001), but a significant increase also observed in maximal oxygen consumption (p=0.0001). However, no significant increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (p>0.05) was observed.

Probably HIIT as a non-pharmacological and effective method can reduce serum Asprosin and lipid profile in overweight and obese women and therefore improve their body composition.

Obesity and overweight can be considered as important factors due to their effect on metabolic disorders. Therefore, the aim of the present research was to study the effect of intermittent intense and continuous moderate intensity training on serum irisin levels and insulin resistance in overweight men.

In the current study, 30 men with an average age of 38.6±3.98 years and a body mass index of 28.5±6.17 kg/m2 were selected and randomly divided into three equal groups including intense interval training, continuous tranining with moderate intensity and control. The training including Intense intermittent and moderate intensity continuous training were performed for eight weeks and repeated three sessions a week. Before and after eight weeks of training, the subjects’ blood samples were collected and the serum irisin and lipid profile were measured using ELISA and calorimetric methods, respectively. Then, intra-group changes were evaluated using the dependent t-test and extra-group changes were evaluated with one-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni test at a significance level of p<0.05.

The improvement of irisin serum levels and insulin resistance was observed in both training groups compared to the control group, so that the changes were more obvious in the continuous training group than the intense intermittent training group. Also, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased significantly in both training groups compared to the control group, while these changes were not significant between training groups. Moreover, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly reduced in both training groups compared to the control group, so that this reduction was significantly greater in the intense intermittent training group than continuous training group.

The current study showed that intermittent and continuous trainings can be considered as a important training, because of effectiveness on irisin, insulin resistance and some variables of lipid profile; they can be very useful in reducing complications caused by overweight.

Increased free radicals and oxidative stress are among the factors that can accelerate the aging process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on oxidant and antioxidant capacity and motor performance indices in the elderly people.

The participants of this study were 24 elderly people (age=71.88±5.06 year) from Bandar Abbas city. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups including control (n=12) and HIIT (n=12). Then, the subjects in the training group performed training protocol, three days a week for eight weeks. During each session, the subjects performed four three-minute workouts with an intensity of 85 to 95% maximal heart rate with three active sets of three-minute rest with 65 to 75 maximal heart rate. Twenty four hours before and 48 hours after last session of HIIT, the variables were measured via standard tests. The analysis of covariance test was used to analyze the data at significant level of p≤0.05.  

Eight weeks of HIIT significantly reduced the total oxidant status, but the total antioxidant capacity and serum levels of sestrin-2 showed significant increase (p<0.001) in the elderly people. Moreover, eight weeks of HIIT improved the gait speed (p<0.001), timed-up-and-go (p<0.05), and maximal oxygen uptake (p<0.001). However, these training protocol could not have a significant effect on time of chair stand test (p=0.22).

HIIT can be use as a useful exercise training method in the elderly people with attention of  training considerations.

Considering the role of physical activity on some factors affecting metabolic diseases, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of moderate aerobic exercise on serum levels of adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and adiponectin/TNF-α ratio in men with metabolic syndrome.

In this semi-experimental study with a pre-test to post-test design, 24 men with metabolic syndrome, the age range of 40-50 years with a BMI=32.90±2.22 kg/m2 were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and they were randomly divided into control and exercise groups. The training intervention included six weeks of moderate aerobic exercises (60-65% HRmax) and three times per week. Serum levels of adiponectin and TNF-α were measured by ELISA and Fasting glucose, triglyceride and high density lipoprotein were measured by enzymatic calorimetric method. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS24 software using repeated measures ANOVA at significant level were set at p≤0.05.

Six weeks of moderate aerobic exercise in men with metabolic syndrome caused a significant increase in serum levels of adiponectin (p=0.008) and the adiponectin/TNF-α ratio (p=0.003) as well as a significant decrease in TNF-α (p=0.01) also were observed. Moreover, serum levels of metabolic parameters including fasting glucose (p=0.001), triglyceride (p=0.003), high-density lipoprotein cholestrol (p=0.03) and BMI (p=0.04) showed a significant improvement at post test. The highest change in the adiponectin/TNF-α and the lowest change in high-density lipoprotein cholestrol were observed.

It seems that moderate aerobic exercise by adjusting the parameters related to the metabolic syndrome disease and also reducing inflammation, can improve the symptoms of this disease.

Childhood obesity has worldwide increasing and has numerous effects on other body tissues, including the thyroid. Therefore, the present study investigated the effect of aerobic exercise with garlic and stevia supplementation on hormonal and histological changes in thyroid tissue in obese rats fed with high-fat diet.

Thirty five Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups of healthy control: obesity induction, obesity induction+garlic, obesity induction+stevia, obesity induction+aerobic exercise, obesity induction+garlic+aerobic exercise, and obesity induction+stevia+aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercises including 40 minutes training were performed eight to 15 m/min and five days per week, for eight weeks. Garlic and stevia extracts with a concentration of 250 mg/kg were added to the daily water intake.  For structural studies the thyroid tissue and five cc of blood was transportd to the lab. for measuring the serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). . For statistical analysis the one-way analysis of variance and LSD post hoc tests were used at the significant level of p<0.05.

Twelve weeks of high-fat diet in rats did not change the serum levels of TSH and T3 compared to the healthy control group (p<0.05). On the other hand, serum T4 levels of obese rats significantly increased compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). Histological analysis, on the other hand, showed that obesity causes moderate to severe structural changes in thyroid tissue; but garlic supplementation, stevia and aerobic exercise, and a combination of garlic-stevia extract and aerobic exercise slightly reduce the effects of obesity.

Induction of high-fat diet causes significant structural changes in the follicular, par follicular and colloidal sections of male Wistar rats; but the combination of aerobic exercise and garlic and stevia supplementation is mildly helpful in improving these side effects.Keywords: Aerobic exercise, Stevia, Garlic, Obesity, Thyroid hormones.