Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk

Abstract Obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and elevated oxidative stress. This study investigated the independent and combined effects of an 8-week aerobic interval-style continuous training program and CoQ10 supplementation on serum TGF-β and MDA concentrations in inactive obese men. Sixty inactive obese men (aged 30–45 years) were randomly assigned to four groups (n=15 each): control (CONT), CoQ10 supplementation (SUP; 100 mg/day), training (TR), and combined training + supplementation (TR+SUP). The supervised training protocol was performed three sessions per week for 8 weeks with progressive intensity. Fasting venous blood samples were collected before and after the intervention. Serum MDA was measured using colorimetric assay, and TGF-β was quantified via ELISA. Data was analyzed using two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. Significant time × exercise interactions were observed for both MDA (F(1,56) = 28.793, p < 0.001) and TGF-β (F(1,56) = 30.617, p < 0.001), with reductions in the exercise groups (MDA: exercise groups from 210 nmol/L to 156 nmol/L; TGF-β: from 35 nmol/L to 30 pg/mL). Time × supplementation interactions were also significant but smaller (MDA: η_p² = 0.082; TGF-β: η_p² = 0.068). No significant three-way interaction was detected for either marker. These findings highlight aerobic interval-style continuous training as a cornerstone intervention for mitigating obesity-related oxidative stress and fibrotic signaling. CoQ10 supplementation produced a small independent reduction in both markers, but no synergistic or additive interaction with exercise was observed.

Abstract High blood pressure or hypertension has become the most common cardiovascular and renal risk factor among people around the world and is mainly associated with an inactive lifestyle and unhealthy diet. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of moderate-intensity interval training on plasma levels of FoxN1 and blood pressure indices in middle-aged men with hypertension. In the present quasi-experimental study, 32 middle-aged men with an age range of 50-60 years and with high blood pressure were purposefully selected and then randomly assigned to two control (n = 15) and experimental (n = 17) groups. The experimental group performed interval training for eight weeks with a frequency of three sessions per week and an intensity of 50-75% of heart rate reserve based on the principle of gradual overload, while the control group did not participate in any training program. Plasma levels of FoxN1 were measured by the ELISA protein assay. Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure were also measured in the subjects of the two groups before and after the training period. to evaluation the normality of the data, the Shapiro-Wilk test was used, and the homogeneity of variances was assessed with the Levene test. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test was also used to compare the variables in the two groups. The data were analyzed at a significance level of 0.05 and using SPSS-23 software. The results showed that eight weeks of moderate-intensity interval training led to a significant increase in FoxN1 (P < 0.05). Also, a significant decrease was observed in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial blood pressure after eight weeks of interval training (P < 0.05). According to the results of the present study, it is recommended that people with high blood pressure perform moderate-intensity interval training to control blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and improve immune function.

Abstract This study investigated the combined efficacy of interval training and thyme honey in attenuating the expression of inflammatory genes (TNF-α and TGF-β) in renal tissue and improving insulin resistance in diabetic rats. In this experimental study, 32 young male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: diabetes mellitus control (DM), diabetes and interval training (DM+HIIT), diabetes and thyme honey (DM+TH), and diabetes and interval training-thyme honey (DM+HIIT+TH). Animals in the training group underwent 40 sessions of training over two months with a gradual increase in the number of intense intervals from 2 to 8 intervals and an intensity of 80 to 95% of maximum running speed. At the same time, the samples in the TH groups received thyme honey at a rate of g/kg 3 and 5 days per week. Insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was performed using the formula. TNF- α  and TGF-β gene expression in kidney tissue was evaluated using Real-Time PCR. Based on the results of the present study, DM+HIIT significantly reduced HOMA-IR compared to the diabetes group (p<0.05). However, the DM+HIIT+TH group did not yield a greater improvement in HOMA-IR than the DM+HIIT group alone. Also, TNF-α and TGF-β genes in the DM+HIIT, DM+TH and DM+HIIT+TH groups showed a significant decrease compared to the diabetes group (p<0.05). In conclusion, our findings provide strong evidence that both interval training and thyme honey supplementation independently ameliorate diabetic nephropathy by downregulating key pro-fibrotic and inflammatory mediators. While the combination therapy was highly effective at suppressing inflammatory genes, it did not provide a synergistic benefit for insulin sensitivity compared to exercise alone. These results suggest that interval exercise is the primary driver of improved insulin sensitivity in this model.

Abstract The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of six weeks of intermittent exercise and curcumin consumption on plasma Apo A and Apo B concentrations in male Wistar rats. 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (5 rats in each group): control, diabetic, healthy intermittent exercise, intermittent exercise diabetes, curcumin diabetes and curcumin exercise diabetes. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin poison (50 mg/kg). Intermittent training consisted of 5-12 bouts of intense work (75 to 100% of maximum speed) of 60 seconds with active rest intervals of 75 seconds, six days a week for six weeks. Curcumin was fed to animals by gavage at a dose of 50 mg per kilogram of body weight. The results demonstrated that diabetes induction significantly decreased plasma Apo A concentration (p≤0.01) and increased plasma Apo B concentration (p≤0.01). Intermittent training caused a significant increase in Apo A and a significant decrease in Apo B plasma in diabetic rats. Also, it was found that six weeks of curcumin consumption significantly increased the concentration of Apo A in plasma and decreased the concentration of Apo B and the ratio of Apo B to Apo A (p≤0.01). At end, the results of the present study showed that intermittent exercise, curcumin and the combination of two interventions improve the disorders caused by diabetes in apolipoproteins.

Abstract Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate aging reduces the possibility of dependence on age-related diseases. Exercise treatment strategies reduce the burden of aging-related illness, disability, and premature death in the elderly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of high-intensity interval swimming training on ULK and TSC1/2 proteins of hippocampus tissue in elderly rats. In this experimental study, 16 elderly male Sprague Dawley rats (20 months old and mean weight 300-450 g) were divided into two groups of control and high-intensity interval swimming training. High-intensity interval swimming training consisted of 14 bouts 20-second swimming sessions with 10 seconds of rest between each session for six weeks (three days a week). The content of ULK and TSC1/2 proteins in hippocampal tissue was measured by Western blotting. Data were analyzed using independent t-test at the P<0.05. The results showed that high-intensity interval swimming training caused significant increase in content of ULK protein of hippocampus tissue in elderly rats (P=0.010). Also, high-intensity interval swimming training caused significant decrease in content of TSC1/2 protein of hippocampus tissue in elderly rats (P=0.010). According to the results, it seems that high-intensity interval swimming training can help improve the homeostasis regulatory pathways in hippocampal neurons in the elderly animal model.