Effects of swimming exercise combined with silymarin and vitamin C supplementation on hepatic inflammation, oxidative stress, and histopathology in elderly rats with high-fat diet-induced liver damage

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to demonstrate that swimming exercise combined with silymarin and vitamin C supplementation improves hepatic inflammation, oxidative stress, and liver histopathology in elderly rats with high-fat diet-induced liver damage.

Methods: Forty elderly male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 8 in each): a normal diet (control), a high-fat diet (HFD), HFD + silymarin and vitamin C supplementation (HFD+Sup), HFD + swimming exercise (HFD+Exe), and HFD+Sup+Exe group (HFD+Sup+Exe). The non-alcoholic fatty liver model was induced for 6 wk in the HFD groups. After 6 wk of consuming an HFD, a daily supplemental gavage was administered to rats as an intervention along with HFD in the supplement groups for 8 wk. Moreover, rats in the exercise groups were subjected to swimming exercise training 5 d/wk for the same period.

Results: The combination of swimming training and supplementation caused significant decreases in liver inflammatory biomarkers tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β while increasing total antioxidant capacity and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: In elderly rats with liver injury caused by an HFD, the combination of exercise and silymarin with vitamin C supplementation effectively reduced oxidative stress, liver inflammation, fat accumulation, and regulated liver enzymes.

Keywords: Inflammation; Liver; Silymarin; Swimming exercise; Vitamin C.