Effect of Aerobic Training and Cinnamon on Expression of Resistin Gene in Adipose Tissue of Male Rats Fed with a High-Fat Diet

Abstract

Background: The pathogenesis of obesity is very complex, and a number of factors are involved in its occurrence. To treat or control obesity and diabetes, various treatment methods, such as the use of natural and synthetic drugs or lifestyle modifications, are recommended for obese people. Exercise is an active lifestyle that can have beneficial effects on obese people. Due to people's concerns about the side effects of chemical drugs, including drug resistance, today in medicine, the use of herbal compounds with different properties, including cinnamon, has been considered by everyone. Objectives: In the current work, simultaneous application of cinnamon extract (CE) and aerobic practices were studied on the expression of the resistin gene (RG) in adipose tissue of male rats on a high-fat diet. Methods: The influence of 5 days a week of aerobic exercise for 6 weeks, along with a simultaneous high-fat diet (as an emulsion with the rate of 150 mL in excess of the routine diet) and consumption of CE (200 mg/kg), were studied. The expression of the RG in adipose tissue of male rats that received a high-fat diet in their daily food was assessed. Independent variables of the present study included performing 6 weeks of aerobic exercise, consumption of CE, and high-fat diet as the underlying variables. The mRNA expression of the proteins was evaluated using real-time PCR. The effect of variables on between-group and within-group changes was assessed using a one-way analysis of variance and the Bonferroni test. Results: Different patterns, including high-fat diet, cinnamon, and combinations of high-fat diet/cinnamon, high-fat diet/aerobic exercise, and high-fat diet/aerobic exercise, were significant on resistin in adipose tissue. Conclusions: The best results in terms of mitigating the adverse effects of diet on the expression of RG were observed for a combination of six weeks of exercise and CE. Therefore, the simultaneous utilization of aerobic exercise and CE is recommended.