Swim exercise inhibits hemostatic abnormalities in a rat model of obesity and insulin resistance

Abstract

Background: We sought to determine whether swim exercise can inhibit high carbohydrate and fat diet (HCFD)-induced biomarkers of coagulation and thrombosis.

Material and methods: Rats were either fed with HCFD (model group) or a standard laboratory chow (control group) for 15 weeks. Swim exercise-‘treated’ rats started swim exercise training from the 11^th week until being sacrificed, on Week 15.

Results: HCFD caused a significant increase in blood glucose, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipidemia, and inflammatory biomarkers. In addition, HCFD significantly modulated coagulation and thrombosis biomarkers; fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, von Willebrand factor, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, blood clotting and bleeding time, and ADP-induced platelet aggregation that was effectively inhibited by swimming exercises.

Conclusions: We demonstrate that in an animal model of obesity and insulin resistance, there is a significant change in hemostasis, which is ameliorated by swim exercise.

Keywords:

• Obesity
• insulin resistance
• rat model
• coagulation
• thrombosis
• exercise

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Mariam Al-Ani from Oasis Dental Care, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, the UK for proofreading the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from King Khalid University (KKU-MED-11–028).