The synergism of high-intensity intermittent exercise and every-other-day intermittent fasting regimen on energy metabolism adaptations includes hexokinase activity and mitochondrial efficiency

Abstract

Visceral lipid accumulation, organ hypertrophy and a reduction in skeletal muscle strength are all signs associated with the severity of obesity-related disease. Intermittent fasting (IF) and high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) are natural strategies that, individually, can prevent and help treat obesity along with metabolic syndrome and its associated diseases. However, the combinatorial effect of IF and HIIE on energetic metabolism is currently not well understood. We hypothesized that their combination could have a potential for more than strictly additive benefits. Here, we show that two months of every-other-day intermittent fasting regimen combined with a high-intensity intermittent exercise protocol (IF/HIIE) produced a synergistic effect, enhancing physical endurance (vs. control, HIIE and IF) and optimizing metabolic pathways of energy production in male Wistar rats. The IF/HIIE group presented enhanced glucose tolerance (vs. control, HIIE and IF), lower levels of plasma insulin (vs. control and HIIE), and a global activation of low Km hexokinases in liver (vs. control, HIIE and IF), heart (vs. control and HIIE) and skeletal muscle (vs. control, HIIE and IF). The IF/HIIE synergism, rather than a simply additive effect, is evidenced by increase in muscle mass and cross-section area, activation of the FoF1 ATP synthase, and the gain of characteristics suggestive of augmented mitochondrial mass and efficiency observed in this group. Finally, important reductions in plasma oxidative stress markers were present preferentially in IF/HIIE group. These findings provide new insights for the implementation of non-pharmaceutical strategies to prevent/treat metabolic syndrome and associated diseases.

Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Glucose Transport and Glucose Metabolism by Exercise Training

“…Numerous studies have shown that aerobic exercise training increases hexokinase protein and activity levels ~25–100% in both human and rodent skeletal muscle [163,164,165,166,167,168,169,170,171,172]. In contrast, the effects of resistance exercise training on muscle hexokinase levels is less clear.…”

The effects of low‐intensity exercise on cardiac glycogenesis and glycolysis in male and ovariectomized female rats on a fructose‐rich diet

“…Besides, prolonged exercise duration results in a statistically significant increase of cardiac hexokinase 2 expression in intact fructosefed females (Kinney LaPier & Rodnick, 2001). On the other hand, in healthy male mice, high-intensity exercise does not change hexokinase 2 activity in the heart (Real-Hohn et al, 2018).…”

Impact of Dietary Restriction Regimens on Mitochondria, Heart, and Endothelial Function: A Brief Overview

“…A protocol of alternate-day fasting (ADF, 24 months) in rats was able to reduce oxidative stress (assessed by the increased level of glutathione) and decrease inflammatory status in the heart during aging similar to young animals (Castello et al, 2010 ). Also, every-other-day IF in combination with high-intensity intermittent exercise protocol optimized the metabolic pathways, with a strong reduction in MDA levels and a decrease in plasma protein oxidation (Real-Hohn et al, 2018 ).…”

“…The evaluation of mitochondrial respiration in rats subjected to IF for 8 weeks showed that an every-other-day protocol lead to an improved O 2 flux and ATP production coupling demonstrated by high respiratory control ratios. These beneficial effects were synergic when combined with a high-intensity intermittent exercise protocol (Real-Hohn et al, 2018 ).…”