Effect of moderate-intensity continuous training and high-intensity interval training with astaxanthin supplementation on inflammatory factors of cardiac tissue in type 2 diabetic rats

The prevalence of diabetes has made necessary changes in lifestyle to prevent its complications. In this study, the effect of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with staxanthin supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers in the cardiac tissue of diabetic rats was investigated.

In this study, 42 male rats (age six weeks), after induction of type 2 diabetes,were randomly divided into seven groups (six in each group): 1)diabetic control; 2) diabetic Sham; 3) diabetes+supplement; 4) diabetes+HIIT; 5) diabetes+HIIT+supplement; 6) diabetes+MICT; and 7) diabetes+MICT+supplement. The HIIT groups ran with an intensity of 80% VO2max, and MICT groups ran with an intensity of about 65% to 75% VO2max on the treadmill (five sessions per week for eight weeks). The supplement was taken daily at a dose of 3 mg per kg. The cardiac tissue was removed 24h after the last training session (night fasting). Inflammatory biomarkers (IL-1b, IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP) of the cardiac tissue were measured by Western blotting.

After eight weeks of training, inflammatory biomarkers showed a significant decrease compared to the control group (p<0.05), and no significant changes were observed in the supplement group.

Due to the effect of MICT and HIIT in reducing inflammatory biomarkers, it can be used as a therapeutic strategy. It seems that the MICT with supplements may have more effective in these patients, while supplements alone have no effect on inflammatory markers.