Introduction and Purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) results from excessive triglyceride accumulation in the liver. NAFLD leads to inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. It appears that oxidative stress disrupts Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) expression and accelerates telomere attrition. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effects of eight weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and purslane supplementation on SIRT6 levels and insulin resistance in rats with NAFLD.
Materials and methods: Twenty-five male Wistar rats, six weeks old, weighing between 160 and 185 grams, were randomly selected. To induce NAFLD, the rats were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. They were then divided into five groups: healthy control, NAFLD control, exercise, purslane supplement, and exercise + purslane supplement. Purslane supplementation was administered to the relevant groups at a dose of 400 mg/kg based on body weight. The HIIT protocol lasted for eight weeks, five days per week, with seven one-minute repetitions at 90% of maximal speed, interspersed with two-minute active recovery periods at 20% of maximal speed. SIRT6 levels were measured using the Western blot method. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test at a significance level of P≤0.05.
Results: Insulin resistance was significantly higher in the NAFLD control group compared to the healthy control group. This indicator was significantly lower in the exercise, purslane supplement, and exercise + purslane supplement groups compared to the NAFLD control group. Additionally, SIRT6 protein levels were significantly lower in the NAFLD control group compared to the healthy control group. However, SIRT6 levels were significantly higher in the exercise, purslane supplement, and exercise + purslane supplement groups than in the NAFLD control group (P≤0.05).
Discussion and Conclusion: It appears that the combination of high-intensity interval training and purslane supplementation may serve as an adjunct therapy for individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.