Effect of Aerobic Training and L-Carnitine Supplementation on Hepatic Oxidative Stress Factors in Diabetic Rat

The use of non-enzymatic antioxidants in food supplements and proper exercise can have a positive effect on decreasing oxidative stress by free radical hunting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic training and L-carnitine supplementation on some of the oxidative stress factors in the liver of diabetic rats.

In this experimental study, 45 male wistar rats (200-300 gr) were randomly divided into six groups: 1) sham group, 2) healthy control group 3) diabetic control group, 4) diabetic group receiving L-carnitine, 5) diabetic group of aerobic training, 6) diabetic group of aerobic training and receiving L-carnitine. The aerobic exercise protocol included six weeks, five sessions per week on the treadmill. After intervention, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) levels were determined in liver tissue.

Six weeks of aerobic exercise had a significant effect on MDA factor in hepatic tissue in diabetic rats (P-value: 0.024). However, supplementation (P-value: 0.868) and combined intervention of aerobic exercise and supplementation of L-carnitine (P-value: 0.465) did not have the significant effect on MDA factor. Also, 6 weeks of aerobic training, supplementation of L-carnitine, and combined intervention had no significant effect on SOD and GPX factors of hepatic tissue in diabetic rats (P-value> 0.05).

L-carnitine supplementation with regular exercise can have beneficial effects on hepatic antioxidant defense system in rats with type 2 diabetes.