Effects of Eight Weeks of Swimming Training on Fetuin-A, FGF21 Levels, and Oxidative Stress in Liver Tissue of Mice with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of swimming training on Fetuin-A, FGF21, and oxidative stress levels in the liver tissue of type 2 diabetic mice.

Materials and Methods: A total of 32 male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to four groups: healthy control (HC), healthy training (HT), diabetic control (DC) and diabetic training (DT). Type 2 diabetes was induced using a high fat diet combined with streptozotocin. Swimming sessions were conducted five days/week over eight weeks with progressive intensity. Liver samples were harvested 48 hours after the final session. Fetuin-A and FGF21 gene expression were measured via real-time PCR, and ROS levels were quantified using a fluorescence assay. One-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test was used for comparisons (P≤ 0.05).

Results: Diabetes induction significantly increased Fetuin-A, FGF21, and ROS levels in the DC group compared to the HC group (P< 0.001). The adaptation resulting from eight weeks of swimming training in the diabetic exercise group probably decreased Fetuin-A and ROS and increased FGF21 (P< 0.001). In the HT group, decreased Fetuin-A and increased FGF21 were also observed compared to the HC group (P< 0.001).

Conclusion: Swimming training modulates key hepatokines(decreasing Fetuin-A and increasing FGF21) and reduces oxidative stress, thereby creating a more favorable metabolic environment in the liver of diabetic mice. These findings in the studied group suggest that swimming training could probably be considered as a non- pharmacological strategy.