Swimming intervention alleviates insulin resistance and chronic inflammation in metabolic syndrome

Abstract

In view of the high incidence of metabolic syndrome and the role of exercise in promoting metabolic disorders, the present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of swimming intervention on metabolic syndrome. In the present study, a total of 100 patients with metabolic syndrome and 100 healthy individuals were included. Fasting blood was extracted from each participant, and the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and IL-8 were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were randomly divided into five groups (groups A-E). Patients in group A was treated with conventional drug treatment. Besides conventional treatment, patients in groups BE were also subjected to swimming intervention for 15, 30, 45 and 60 min each time, respectively, four times a week for 3 months. Changes in the homeostatic model assessment of β-cell function and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score, and in the serum levels of IL-1, hs-CRP, TNF-α and IL-8 were recorded. Furthermore, muscle tissues were collected from patients, and the expression levels of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) and protein kinase B (Akt) in the tissues were detected by western blot assay. The results revealed that HOMA-IR and the serum levels of IL-1, hs-CRP, TNF-α and IL-8 were significantly higher in metabolic syndrome patients as compared with those in the normal controls, while swimming intervention reduced HOMA-IR and these serum levels to different extents. Swimming intervention also promoted IRS-1 and Akt phosphorylation, and increased GLUT4 expression level. Thus, it is concluded that swimming intervention may improve metabolic syndrome through multiple pathways.

Associations of Relative Handgrip Strength and Aerobic and Strength Exercises with Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence

“…First, exercise helps to reduce insulin resistance and to improve insulin sensitivity because exercise increases glucose uptake without insulin dependence [ 32 , 33 ]. Second, increased exercise decreases pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF and IL-beta, that are associated with metabolic syndrome [ 34 , 35 ]. Third, accumulated adipose tissue, including fat-derived mesenchymal stem cells, could modify mRNA expression, leading to insulin resistance [ 36 ].…”

Comparing prophylactic effect of exercise and metformin on cognitive brain functions in rats with type 3 diabetes mellitus

“…The results of recent research studies revealed that dietary modification, together with a regular exercise program, can improve certain aspects of pathological consequences associated with DM, including endothelial dysfunction, as well as insulin resistance, a finding supported with several recent aging-related studies. Physical activity can revert insulin resistance through activating IR and IRS proteins, together with the stimulation of insulin-independent signaling pathways [ 43 ], leading to the preservation of the β-cell mass and the prevention of islet cell exhaustion [ 44 ].…”

Ghrelin as a Biomarker of “Immunometabolic Depression” and Its Connection with Dysbiosis

“…Researchers speculate that inflammation underlies the frequent comorbidity between metabolic syndrome and MDD, as both conditions share several inflammatory disturbances. The evidence that inflammation plays a key role in the immunopathogenesis of those illnesses is supported by the fact that levels of proinflammatory cytokines like IL-6, IL-1, and TNF-alfa are raised both in patients with MetS [ 55 , 56 ] and MDD [ 57 , 58 ] compared to healthy controls. It has been demonstrated that persistent stress, which correlates with depression and anxiety [ 59 ], raises the level of cytokines [ 60 ].…”