The effect of herbal supplement and exercise training on plasma lipid profile in diabetic male rats

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of six weeks of intermittent exercise and curcumin consumption on the lipid profile of diabetic male rats. In an experimental trial, 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (5 rats in each group): control, diabetic, healthy intermittent exercise, intermittent exercise +diabetes, curcumin +diabetes and curcumin+ exercise +diabetes. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin poison (50 mg/kg). Intermittent training consisted of 5-12 bouts of intense work (75 to 100% of maximum speed) of 60 seconds with active rest intervals of 75 seconds, six days a week for six weeks. Curcumin was fed to animals by gavage at a dose of 50 mg per kilogram of body weight. After six weeks, unconscious animals and blood samples were collected from their hearts. The data were analyzed using ANOVA statistical test and Bonferroni post hoc test. Induction of diabetes caused an increase in cholesterol, TG and LDL levels (P=0.01). Intermittent training and curcumin, each alone, caused them to decrease (P=0.01). In addition, diabetes decreased HDL while intermittent exercise increased it, but curcumin supplementation did not have a significant effect. The effect of combining interval training with curcumin supplement was significant only for TG and did not have a significant effect on other data. Exercise training and curcumin can have an anti-inflammatory effect with reducing lipid profile and increasing HDL in diabetic animal.