ABSTRACT
Regular physical activity, which can include structured exercise in a variety of forms, offers a net benefit for most individuals with diabetes. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the effects of exercise on some metabolic parameters on Alloxan- induced diabetic rats. A total of eighty (80) albino wistar rats weighing between 140-300g were randomly divided into three main groups with control group having two subgroups, twenty rats per group: Group 1(control): (Ca) (n = 20) were non-exercised control rats. Another group of control rats, (Cb) (n= 20) were rats exercised continuously for 6days. Group 2: (n = 20) were non-exercised alloxan‐induced diabetic rats and group 3: (n = 20) were alloxan-induced rats exercised continuously for 6days. A single dose of freshly prepared alloxan monohydrate of 150mg/kg body weight was administered using intra-peritoneal routes to rats in group 2 and 3 to induced diabetes. The rats were subjected to exercise on the treadmill for 10mins/day at 20m/mins. Blood sample were collected from four rats every two days for six days from each group by cardiac puncture while the heart and pancreas were harvested for histological studies. Blood glucose was determined using glucometer before and after induction with diabetes, 2days, 4days and 6days after exercise. The Graphpad prism statistical software version 5.3 was used for data analysis. Comparison within-groups were done using One-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) and comparison between groups was done using the Duncan’s Multiple Range test. There were significant increases in fasting blood glucose (FBG) (p<0.05, respectively) at 48hrs, 2days, 4days and 6days in both test groups (alloxan-induced and alloxan-induced with exercise) compared with the baseline respectively. However, there were no significant differences (p>0.05, respectively) at 48hrs FBG, 4days and 6days in exercised only and control groups compared to the baseline. Furthermore, there were significant decreases (p<0.05, respectively) in the alloxan-induced with exercise compared with the non-exercised diabetic rats at the 4th and 6thdays respectively. There were significant decreases in creatine kinase (CK-MB) activities (p<0.05, respectively) in the alloxan-induced exercised groups compared with both non-exercised groups (the control and the alloxan-induced) at 2nd and 4thdays respectively. Also, there were significant decreases in total cholesterol (TC) concentration and triglycerides (TG) (p<0.05, respectively) in the alloxan-induced exercised group compared with the controls and the alloxan induced group on day 4 only. There were no significant differences in low density and high density lipoprotein concentration (p>0.05, respectively) in the alloxan-induced exercise group compared with other groups across the duration in all the treated and untreated groups. Conclusively, exercise has reducing effect on the blood glucose level of diabetic rats and also CK-MB activity. The possible role of insulin in lipid peroxidation is also highlighted. Aerobic exercise was essential in the amelioration, prevention and management of the glycaemic complications in diabetic mellitus. However, there were no significant correlation between blood glucose level, CK-MB activity and lipid profiles in the diabetic groups.
