Effect of folate supplementation during 10 weeks of HIIT on serum levels of ghrelin and leptin in male Wistar rats

Exercise training is one of the contributing factors in appetite changes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of folate supplementation on serum levels of ghrelin and leptin during 10 weeks of high intensity interval training in male Wistar rats.
After a period of familiarization for one week, 27 male Wistar rats (weight= 203/94 ± 27/34gr, Age: 9 weeks), were randomly divided into four groups: control (n=6), folate supplementation (n=6), high intensity interval training (n =7) and HIIT纉媵 supplementation (n =8). HIIT training protocol started with speed of 30 m/min for 1 min with 10 reps and 2 min active rest in the first week and reached to 75-80 m/min for 1 min with 7 reps and 3 min active rest in the last week. Folate supplementation carried out by dissolving folate tablets in drinking water. 48 hrs after the last training session, animals were anesthetized, serum samples were collected and ghrelin and leptin levels of serum were measured by using ELISA kit.
The results of this study showed that serum ghrelin level increased significantly (P=0/01) in folateᲂ group compared to those in HIIT groups. Also, there was a significant decrease (P=0/35) in serum leptin levels in the folate, HIIT and folateᲂ groups compared to that in the control group but, we found no such significant (P=0/955) differences between folateᲂ and HIIT groups.
According to our results, folate supplementation during high intensity interval training resulted in increased serum ghrelin level. Therefore folate supplementatian can prevent loss of appetite in the athletes who perform high intensity interval training.