Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC) license

Authors

1 Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

2 Professor of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

10.22124/jme.2025.30022.396

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and vitamin D3 supplementation on metabolic syndrome indices and the IRS-1 protein signaling pathway in the cardiac tissue of male Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-fructose diet.
Methods: In this experimental post-test study, 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats (7 weeks old, weighing 250–270 g) were randomly divided into five groups of eight. The HIIT program consisted of 10 intervals of 4-minute activity at 85–90% VO2max with 2-minute active rest, performed 5 days a week for 12 weeks. Serum levels of insulin, glucose, insulin resistance index, lipid profile (TC, LDL, TG, HDL), and expression of IRS-1 and P-IRS-1 proteins in cardiac tissue were measured using Western blot. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the Games-Howell post hoc test at a significance level of P < 0.05.
Results: Significant increases were observed in body weight (P < 0.01), waist circumference (P < 0.01), body mass index (P < 0.01), visceral fat (P < 0.01), TG (P < 0.01), TC (P < 0.01), LDL (P < 0.01), and reductions in HDL (P < 0.01) and IRS-1 and P-IRS-1 protein expression in the [CF] group compared to [CN].
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that HIIT and vitamin D supplementation effectively attenuate high-fructose diet-induced MetS, at least in part, through activation of cardiac tissue P-IRS-1 signaling, improving body composition, glycemic indices, and lipid profiles.

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