high-intensity interval training and royal jelly synergistically attenuate insulin resistance and renal inflammatory markers (tnf-α and nf-κb) in experimental diabetes

Exercise and the use of anti-inflammatory supplements are effective in controlling inflammation and tissue damage in diabetes. therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of interval training and royal jelly on the expression of renal inflammatory genes and insulin resistance in diabetic rats. thirty-two male wistar rats were used in this study. diabetes was induced by a high-fat diet for 20 weeks followed by intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared stz solution in saline (25 mg/kg). then the rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: diabetes (di), di+ hiit, di+ royal jelly (rj), and di+ hiit+ rj. royal jelly groups were given royal jelly at a dose of 100 mg/kg diluted in distilled water and gavage 5 days a week. the exercise program consisted of eight weeks of hiit training, five sessions per week with a gradual increase in intensity intervals from 22 to 38 meters per minute (80 to 90% of vo2max) and rest intervals at a speed of 16 to 22 meters per minute (50 to 56% of vo2max). at the end of the research, rats were euthanized and kidney tissue was removed to measure the expression of tnf-α and nf-κb genes. the di+hiit (p=0.0006), di+rj (p=0.0011) and di+hiit+rj (p<0.0001) groups showed a significant decrease in homa-ir compared to the diabetes control group. the di+hiit, di+rj and di+hiit+rj groups showed a significant decrease in tnf-α and nf-κb gene expression in kidney tissue compared to the diabetes control group. in conclusion, 8 weeks of hiit and/or royal jelly supplementation significantly ameliorated insulin resistance and suppressed renal pro-inflammatory gene expression (tnf-α, nf-κb) in diabetic rats, with the combined approach showing the greatest efficacy.