# The effects of resistance training on cardiovascular factors and anti-inflammation in diabetic rats

## TL;DR

Resistance training in diabetic rats lowers blood glucose and inflammation while boosting anti-inflammatory factors and improving cardiovascular health.

## Contribution

This study demonstrates that resistance exercise reduces inflammatory markers and improves cardiovascular factors in diabetic rats.

## Key findings

- Resistance training reduced body weight and blood glucose levels in diabetic rats.
- Exercise decreased levels of inflammatory markers like PAI-1, VCAM-1, and TNF-α.
- Exercise increased anti-inflammatory markers such as IL-4 and IL-10.

## Abstract

Diabetes induces a range of macrovascular and microvascular changes, which lead to significant clinical complications. Although many studies have tried to solve the diabetic problem using drugs, it remains unclear. In this study, we investigated whether resistance exercise affects cardiovascular factors and inflammatory markers in diabetes. The study subjected Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, which have genetically induced diabetes mellitus, to a resistance exercise program for 12 weeks and assessed the levels of cardiovascular factors and inflammatory markers using western blotting analysis, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. During the training period, OLETF + exercise (EX) group exhibited lower body weight and reduced glucose levels when compared with OLETF group. Western blotting analysis, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry revealed that the levels of PAI-1, VACM-1, ICAM-1, E-selectin, TGF-β, CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α were decreased in OLETF + EX group when compared with the OLETF group. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory markers, IL-4 and IL-10, were highly expressed after exercise. Therefore, these results indicate that exercise may influence the regulation of cardiovascular factors and inflammatory markers, as well as help patients with metabolic syndromes regulate inflammation and cardiovascular function.

•Resistance training reduces blood glucose levels.•Exercise lowers the levels of cardiovascular factors.•Exercise regulates inflammation.•Resistance training elevates anti-inflammatory factors.

Resistance training reduces blood glucose levels.

Exercise lowers the levels of cardiovascular factors.

Exercise regulates inflammation.

Resistance training elevates anti-inflammatory factors.