The Effects of High-Protein Diet and Resistance Training on Glucose Control and Inflammatory Profile of Visceral Adipose Tissue in Rats

Abstract

High-protein diets (HPDs) are widely accepted as a way to stimulate muscle protein synthesis when combined with resistance training (RT). However, the effects of HPDs on adipose tissue plasticity and local inflammation are yet to be determined. This study investigated the impact of HPDs on glucose control, adipocyte size, and epididymal adipose inflammatory biomarkers in resistance-trained rats. Eighteen Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: normal-protein (NPD; 17% protein total dietary intake) and HPD (26.1% protein) without RT and NPD and HPD with RT. Trained groups received RT for 12 weeks with weights secured to their tails. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests, adipocyte size, and an array of cytokines were determined. While HPD without RT induced glucose intolerance, enlarged adipocytes, and increased TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL1-β levels in epididymal adipose tissue (p < 0.05), RT diminished these deleterious effects, with the HPD + RT group displaying improved blood glucose control without inflammatory cytokine increases in epididymal adipose tissue (p < 0.05). Furthermore, RT increased glutathione expression independent of diet (p < 0.05). RT may offer protection against adipocyte hypertrophy, pro-inflammatory states, and glucose intolerance during HPDs. The results highlight the potential protective effects of RT to mitigate the maladaptive effects of HPDs.

Aerobic Exercise Modulates Visceral Adipose Tissue of Estrogen Deprived Rats in an Experimental Model of Dyslipidemia

“…4,9 However, physical exercise allows a decrease in the levels of fat stored in the VAT, thus the adipocytes decrease in size. 1,20,21 Rodrigues et al 22 working with Sprague-Dawley females showed that ovariectomy increased adipocyte hypertrophy and that training decreased the area of fat cells. It is known that adipose tissue has high plasticity and maintains its ability to expand throughout the life of animals through hypertrophy and hyperplasia.…”

Effects of Creatine Supplementation on the Myostatin Pathway and Myosin Heavy Chain Isoforms in Different Skeletal Muscles of Resistance-Trained Rats

“…All trained rats were familiarized with the climbing exercise protocol for three days with a 10% animal body weight load. A total of 8 to 12 climbing sets were considered a complete session during familiarization [36,37].…”

“…The test was also stopped when eight exercise sets were completed. The highest weight carried to the top of the ladder was considered the maximal load [35][36][37][38][39].…”