Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

The Effect of High Intensity Interval Training and Intermittent Fasting on SIRT1/PGC-1α of Liver Tissue in Rat Fed with a High-Fat and High-Fructose Diet

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors
Mahdi Hosseinkhah
Mousa Khalafi
Keywan Sharifmoradi
Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
10.48305/jims.v43.i818.0632
Abstract
Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and intermittent fasting (ADF) on liver mitochondrial biogenesis in male rats fed a high-fat, high-fructose diet (HFD+HF).
Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats (8 weeks old) were randomly divided into five groups: standard diet (ND), high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFD+HF), high-fat and high-fructose diet with exercise (HFD+HF+HIIT), high-fat and high-fructose diet with intermittent fasting (HFD+HF+ADF), and high-fat and high-fructose diet with exercise and intermittent fasting (HFD+HF+HIIT+ADF). The HIIT protocol (5 days per week) and the ADF diet (every other day eating and fasting) were performed for 12 weeks. The protein levels of PGC-1α and SIRT1 in liver tissue were measured by Western blotting.
Findings: High-fat and high-fructose diet resulted in a significant decrease in hepatic PGC-1α and SIRT1 protein levels compared to ND (P<0.001). Also, all three groups HFD+HF+ADF, HFD+HF+HIIT and HFD+HF+HIIT+ADF showed a significant increase in PGC-1α compared to the HFD+HF group (P<0.05). Also, the two groups HFD+HF+ADF and HFD+HF+HIIT+ADF resulted in a significant increase in SIRT1 compared to the HFD+HF group (P<0.05). Also, the HFD+HF+HIIT+ADF group showed a significant increase in SIRT1 compared to each of the groups HFD+HF+ADF and HFD+HF+HIIT alone (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The combination of HIIT and ADF can effectively increase mitochondrial biogenesis and possibly reverse the negative effects of a high-fat, high-fructose diet by improving mitochondrial function and be a more effective strategy for improving liver fat content.

Highlights

Mousa Khalafi: Google Scholar 

Keyvan Sharifmoradi:  Google Scholar 

Keywords
High-intensity interval training
High-fat
high-fructose diet
Intermittent fasting
Mitochondrial biogenesis
Subjects
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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 43, Issue 818
2nd Week, August
July and August 2025
Pages 632-641

  • Receive Date 15 December 2024
  • Accept Date 01 July 2025