The effect of eight weeks endurance training and high-fat diet on appetite-regulating hormones in rat plasma

OBJECTIVES Consumption of high-fat foods is one of the major causes of obesity. Physical exercise is a strategy used to counteract obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks endurance training and high-fat diet (HFD) on appetite-regulating hormones in rat plasma. MATERIALS AND METHODS TWENTY EIGHT MALE WISTAR RATS WERE RANDOMLY DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS: Control group with standard diet (CSD), endurance training with a standard diet (ESD), control group with high-fat diet (CHFD) and endurance training with high-fat diet (EHFD). Twenty-four hr after the last training session, the blood samples were obtained and analyzed for hormones levels. RESULTS The significant increased weight gain and food intake and decreased plasma nesfatin-1 and PYY3-36 levels were observed in CHFD group, while exercise under the HFD antagonized these effects. There were no significant changes in ghrelin, insulin and leptin levels in different groups. CONCLUSION These results suggest that exercise can prevent fattening effect of HFD. Probably, performing exercise makes a reduction of food intake and weight gain in rat via the increase in nesfatin-1 and PYY levels. However, further studies are necessary to understand the exact mechanisms involved in this field.