Abstract

Background and purpose: Creating cardiovascular protection with proper exercise and nutrition are important issues. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and flaxseed oil supplement on the expression of genes involved in cardiac protection (UCP2, UCP3 and eNOS) in healthy male rats. Materials and methods: Twenty adult wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=5) including control-saline (CS), training-saline (TS), control-flaxseed oil (CO), and training-flaxseed oil (TO). The training groups were given high-intensity interval training (10 weeks, five sessions in week) on a rodent treadmill at 90–95 of VO2max. The supplement groups received flaxseed oil at 30 mg/kg per cage. Five days after the last training session, rats were sacrificed and samples were collected. Results: UCP2 and UCP3 gene expression significantly increased in training group compared with control group. Interestingly, we found that UCP2 gene expression in combined group was significantly higher than those of the control and training groups (P=0.008). Also, the expression of UCP3 was significantly higher in the exercise training group (P=0.05) and combined group (P=0.05). eNOS gene expression significantly increased in combined group compared with control and trainig groups (P=0.008). Conclusion: High intensity interval training combined with flaxseed oil supplement contributes to cardiac protection by increasing the expression of UCP2, UCP3 and eNOS genes. © 2018, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.