Protective effect of curcumin supplementation and intermittent exercise on liver damage indices of diabetic rats

Background and purpose: Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in the world that causes various injuries. Liver damage is one of the complications of diabetes that can be traced by changes in AST and ALT markers. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of six weeks of intermittent exercise and curcumin consumption on serum levels of liver damage indicators in male diabetic rats.Materials and methods: In an experimental trial, ۳۰ male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (۵ 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 (۵۰ mg/kg). Intermittent training consisted of ۵-۱۲ bouts of intense work (۷۵ to ۱۰۰% of maximum speed) of ۶۰ seconds with active rest intervals of ۷۵ seconds, six days a week for six weeks. Curcumin was fed to animals by gavage at a dose of ۵۰ 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 Benferroni post hoc test.Findings: Induction of diabetes caused disturbances in serum levels of ALT and AST. The combination of interval training and curcumin improved ALT and AST. However, intermittent exercise or curcumin supplementation alone could not produce significant changes.Conclusion: In general, the results of the present study showed that intermittent exercise and curcumin, with their protective effect, can improve the complications and liver disorders of diabetes.