High-Fat and Fat-Enriched Diets Impair the Benefits of Moderate Physical Training in the Aorta and the Heart in Rats

Abstract

AimMillions of people die each year due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). A Western lifestyle not only fuses a significant intake of fat with physical inactivity and obesity but also promotes CVD. Recent evidence suggests that dietary fat intake impairs the benefits of physical training. We investigated whether aerobic training could reverse the adverse effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) on the aorta. Then, we explored whether this type of exercise could reverse the damage to the heart that is imposed by fat-enriched diet (FED).MethodsRats were randomly assigned to two experiments, which lasted 8 weeks each. First, rats swam for 60 min and were fed either a regular diet [standard diet (STD)] or an HFD. After aortic samples had been collected, the rats underwent a histopathological analysis for different biomarkers. Another experiment subjected rats that were fed either an STD or an FED to swimming for 20 or 90 min.ResultsThe first experiment revealed that rats that were subjected to an HFD-endured increased oxidative damage in the aorta that exercises could not counteract. Together with increased cyclooxygenase 2 expression, an HFD in combination with physical training increased the number of macrophages. A reduction in collagen fibers with an increased number of positive α-actin cells and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 occurred concomitantly. Upon analyzing the second experiment, we found that physically training rats that were given an FED for 90 min/day decreased the cardiac adipose tissue density, although it did not protect the heart from fat-induced oxidative damage. Even though the physical training lowered cholesterol levels that were promoted by the FED, the levels were still higher than those in the animals that were given an STD. Feeding rats an FED impaired the swimming protocol’s effects on lowering triglyceride concentration. Additionally, exercise was unable to reverse the fat-induced deregulation in hepatic antioxidant and lipid peroxidation activities.ConclusionOur findings reveal that an increased intake of fat undermines the potential benefits of physical exercise on the heart and the aorta.

Regulating AMPKα and insulin level by Vinegar, Swimming and Refeeding on High-Fat Diet Rats to Rebuild Lipid Homeostasis

“…Only one group member of our research was responsible for the animal management and intervention on the rats of HS group to avoid personality error. We adopted a moderate protocol by 60-minute swimming for 4 weeks (7 times/week) on average (21, 22). These rats underwent physical training within tepid water (30±2 °C) in experimental swimming pools (36 cm of depth).…”

“…The strategy related to AMPK pathway on the regulation of whole-body lipid metabolism has been of interest, especially on the higher effect of heart, liver, and gonadal adipose tissue as compared with skeletal muscle by AMPK (11). Moreover, Liver and peripheral fat are important insulin-targeted tissues which can reflect global lipometabolic level (21). Here we focused on the related AMPK substrates: C1q/TNF-associated protein (CTRP) and hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 α (HNF1α).…”

New Therapeutic Agents in Obesity-Related Cardiovascular Disorders: Molecular and Cellular Insights

“…An important process related with the development of obesity in the body is the correlation between the content of the diet and the body intake of energy. In that content, Fernandes and co-workers [58] studied the effect of a high-fat diet on heart and aorta function in rats. They observed an increased oxidative damage in the aorta, together with increased cyclooxygenase 2 expression and the increased numbers of macrophages.…”

Exercise attenuates high-fat diet-induced PVAT dysfunction through improved inflammatory response and BMP4-regulated adipose tissue browning

“…It is well-documented that sedentary habits and/or excessive consumption of fat-enriched foods over a period of time trigger the onset of PVAT dysfunction by promoting the production of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) ( 20 , 21 ). On the other hand, regular exercise training plays a crucial role in prevention of diet-induced cardiovascular and other metabolic diseases ( 22 , 23 ). Particularly, aerobic exercise can promote the browning of PVAT and alleviates high-fat diet-induced PVAT dysfunction, possibly by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in obese mice ( 24 ).…”