Jorjani Biomedicine Journal

Background and Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the response of lipid profile, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial biogenesis index of obese rats to various exercise training.
Material and Methods: 24 rats were randomly divided into four groups of 6: 1) obese-interval training (HIIT); 2) obese-continuous training (CT); 3) obese control (OB) and 4) control (Cont). During the study period, (from 16 to 24 weeks) rats in groups 1, 2, and 3 were given high-fat foods (from 16 to 24 weeks). After being familiarized, rats in groups 1 and 2 performed HIIT and continuous training three times a week for eight weeks, respectively. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni posthoc test (p≤0.05).
Results: A study of Western blotting showed that the amount of muscle PGC1α in HIIT and CT groups was significantly higher than OB and Cont groups. Also, despite the more reduction in visceral fat and other factors in the CT group, the HIIT groupchr('39')s PGC1α content was higher than the CT group, which was not significant. Serum levels of glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance in HIIT and CT groups (At 24 weeks) were significantly lower than the OB group (p≤0.05); However, these glycemic indices weren’t significantly different from the control group (P≥0.05). There was a significant difference in TG, TC, LDL, and HDL values between the exercise groups with the OB group. In addition, the increase in visceral fat was 27% in the OB group, while a decrease of 30% and 43% was observed in the HIIT and CT groups, respectively (P<0.05).
Conclusion: It seems that the use of HIIT can be as effective as continuous training on lipid profile, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial function of muscle tissue in obese people.

Background and Objective: Aging is the major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases as aging increases plasma levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and endothelial dysfunction. Physical exercise and spirulina improve the endothelial dysfunction and chronic inflammation that accompanies aging. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Aerobic Exercise (AT), with blue-algae Spirulina Supplementation (SP) on the indicators of endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance in overweight adult men.
Material and Methods: In this clinical trial study, 40 overweight adult men (age 57.50±4.84 years, Body mass index: BMI 26.90±2.85 kg/m2) were selected from Bandar-e-Anzali and randomly allocated into five groups; including Control-Normal (CN), Overweight (OW), Overweight-Aerobic Training (OWAT), Overweight-Spirulina (OWSP) and Overweight-Aerobic Training -Spirulina (OWATSP). Training groups participated in an aerobic exercise program for eight weeks, five sessions per week (with an intensity of 65 to 85% of peak heart rate, 40 minutes). The OWSP and OWATSP groups were provided with two 500 mg SP tablets daily in the morning and evening. Data were analyzed using an independent t-test and ANCOVA at a significance level of
P <0.05.
Results: The levels of endothelin-1(ET-1), Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1), Selectin-E, and HOMA-IR index in the OW group were higher than CN (P≤0.05). AT and SP significantly reduced ET-1, ICAM-1, Selectin-E, and HOMA-IR (P≤0.05). In the OWATSP group, the levels of ET-1, ICAM-1, Selectin-E, and HOMA-IR were significantly lower than OW and OWSP (P≤0.05). NO levels significantly decreased in OWATSP and OWAT (P≤0.05).
Conclusion: Aerobic training and spirulina supplementation could improve the endothelial function in overweight adult men, by altering the levels of ET-1, ICAM-1, Selectin-E, and NO. However, the simultaneous effect of AT with SP on these indices was better. Improved endothelial function was associated with an improvement in insulin resistance index.