Effect of Exercise and Orlistat Therapy in Rat Model of Obesity Induced with High Fat Diet

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly and, has largely been attributed to increased dietary intake of high energy food and physical inactivity. Advances in adipose tissue biology over the past decades have led to an improved understanding of the mechanisms linking obesity with obesity-associated metabolic complications. Adipose tissue is not merely a passive energy storage depot, but it is a complex, metabolically active tissue that secretes a variety of signaling molecules, collectively known as adipokines. Material and Methods: Eight-week old male Wistar rats (n=40) weighing 280-300g divided into four groups; Group 1: Control (non obese rats): Rats which were fed standard diet (12% of calories as fat; Table 1) for 12 consecutive weeks; Group 2: HFD (obese rats): Rats which were fed high fat diet (HFD) (40% of calories as fat; Table 1) for 12 consecutive weeks; Group 3: HFD+Orlistat: Rats which were fed a high fat diet (40% of calories as fat) and received a concomitant therapeutic dose of orlistat (200mg/kg) for 12 consecutive weeks; Group 4: HFD+Exercise: Rats which were fed a high fat diet (40% of calories as fat) and underwent a simultaneous daily swimming exercise (30min/day) for 12 consecutive weeks. After 12 weeks the body weight, adipose tissue (visceral, retroperitoneal and epididymal fat) were weighed, adiposity index was calculated and lipogram, serum IL-6, TNF-a, ICAM-1, VCAM, hsCRP, ghrelin, and leptin were measured. Results: High fat diet for 12 weeks increased significantly the body weight, adiposity index, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides LDL-cholesterol, IL-6, TNF-a, ICAM-1, VCAM, hsCRP and leptin with significant decrease in HDL-cholesterol and ghrelin in serum as compared with control group. Both orlistat and swimming exercise decreased the body weight, adiposity index, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDLcholesterol, IL-6, TNF-a, ICAM-1, VCAM, hsCRP and leptin and significantly increased serum HDL-cholesterol and ghrelin as compared with HFD fed rats. Conclusion: Obesity-induced low grade inflammation could be reversed by daily swimming training exercise through Correspondence to: Dr. Samy Eleaw a, The Department of Applied Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, PAAET, Kuwait decreasing expression and the circulatory levels of the inflammatory mediators and cytokines.