Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Department of exercise physiology, Karaj branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
Abstract
Background and Aim: The increasing prevalence of obesity and its associated diseases, including diabetes and fatty liver disease, highlights the importance of regular exercise in obesity management. Moreover, evidence suggests that betaine may improve obesity by influencing hepatic fat and glucose metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the combined effect of moderate-intensity interval training (MIIT) and Betaine supplementation on hepatic CD28 gene expression, serum levels of urea, creatinine, and lipid profile in obese rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 25 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: (1) Healthy, (2) Obese, (3) Obese + Supplement, (4) Obese + Training, and (5) Obese + Supplement + Training. Obese rats were fed a high-fat diet for six weeks. The MIIT protocol included treadmill running for 30 minutes, five days per week, with progressive overload for eight weeks. Nano-emulsified betaine supplementation (50 mg/kg body weight) was administered via gavage before training. At the end of the study, hepatic CD28 gene expression was measured using Real-Time PCR, while serum levels of creatinine, urea, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using independent t-tests and two-way ANOVA at a significance level of p≤0.05. Results: Obesity significantly increased TG, total cholesterol, LDL, CD28, creatinine, and urea, while HDL decreased. Both training and supplementation independently reduced CD28, creatinine, TG, total cholesterol, and LDL, while increasing HDL. The interaction between training and supplementation significantly influenced CD28, LDL, total cholesterol, and creatinine. Conclusion: Moderate-intensity aerobic training and nano-emulsified betaine supplementation, both independently and in combination, may play a significant role in reducing obesity-induced hepatic inflammation through lipid metabolism regulation.
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