The restorative effects of graded intensities of exercise training on the biochemical and nutritional status of obese induced male Wistar rats (Rattus novegicus)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the specific effects of 12 weeks of intensive, graded intensities of exercise training on nutritional parameters and some plasma biochemical parameters in high-fat diet and sucrose obesity-induced (HFDS) Wistar rats. In evaluating the restorative effects of graded exercise training as an intervention in managing obesity, 25 male Wistar rats who were 7 weeks old were used. These 25 rats were broadly grouped into 5 rats as controls and 20 rats as experiments. In the first phase of the experiment, which involved the induction of obesity, the rats were fed on HFDS containing 35% total fat, 39% carbohydrates, 23% protein, 6% fiber per 100 grams, and 60% sucrose solution per 100 mL for 12 weeks, while the 5 rats in the control group were fed on a normal rodent diet containing 5% total fat, 39% carbohydrates, 23% protein, and 6% fiber per 100 grams. In the second phase, which was the interventional phase, the 20 HFDS-induced obese rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups: the control (sedentary group), low, medium, and high-intensity exercise training groups, and were subjected to various intensities of exercise training. All experimental groups received the HFDS throughout the exercise training period. After 84 days of exercise training intervention, the final body weight, plasma biochemical parameters including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) concentrations, and nutrition parameters including feed efficiency (FE), feed consumption (FC), and caloric intake (CI) were assessed. The study established that graded exercise training has a direct, inversely proportional reduction in TC, TG, and LDLC concentrations. In conclusion, medium- to high-intensity exercise training is associated with restoring the dyslipidemic profile in the serum of rats and also increased feed efficiency.