PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF HIIT AND L-CARNITINE SUPPLEMENTATION AGAINST OBESITY-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS AND BIOCHEMICAL ALTERATIONS IN THE BLOOD OF RATS

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and L-Carnitine supplementation on oxidative stress and biochemical parameters in the blood of obese rats. Methods: Animals were divided into five groups: Normal Diet-Untrained (ND-UNT), High-Fat Diet-Untrained (HFD-UNT), High-Fat Diet-Untrained + Carnitine (HFD-UNT-C), High-Fat Diet + HIIT (HFD-HIIT) and High-Fat Diet + HIIT + Carnitine (HFD-HIIT-C). To induce obesity, animals in the HFD groups were fed on a high-fat diet for 14 weeks, while animals in the ND groups were fed on a standard diet. Animals in the HFD-UNT-C and HFD-HIIT-C groups received L-Carnitine by gavage as soon as the HIIT protocol was started (5 days a week) and animals in the UNT group walked at 40% intensity (twice a week). After the end of the 10th week of training, animals were sacrificed by decapitation and their blood was collected and prepared according to the technique. The antioxidant activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total sulfhydryl and protein carbonyl content, glucose, insulin, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c) and total cholesterol were determined. Results: HFD promoted lipoperoxidation, protein damage, and alterations in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, increased LDL-c and insulin levels; the HIIT protocol, isolated and sometimes associated with L-Carnitine, prevented these alterations. Conclusion: These results indicate that the HFD promoted oxidative stress and alterations in biochemical parameters, and that the HIIT protocol, isolated and associated with L-Carnitine, has antioxidant potential.