High and Moderate Intensity Aerobic Training Effects on Galectin-3, Pentraxin-3, and Several Inflammatory Mediators Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Women, a Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Galectin-3 and pentraxin-3 are recognized as cardiovascular risk factors, levels of which change in the pathological conditions, including type 2 diabetes. The aim of present research was to investigate the high and moderate intensity aerobic training effects on galectin-3, pentraxin-3, and some inflammatory mediators levels in type 2 diabetic women. Methods: Our study was a randomized clinical trial, conducted on the 36 type 2 diabetic women with an average age of 46.95±3.49 years old, randomly assigned to three equal groups, including control, continuous training with moderate-intensity (MICT), and high intensity interval training (HIIT) groups. Both MICT and HIIT program performed three sessions per week over a 12-week period. Training intensity in HIIT and MICT group was 90 and 60-70 percent of maximum heart rate, respectively. Blood samples at the baseline and after the 12-week training intervention were collected and the variables levels were measured via ELISA method. Repeated measures ANOVA test and Tukey post-hoc test were employed for data analysis. The research is documented in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (registration number: IRCT20200729048252N1). Results: Galectin-3 levels significantly decreased in HIIT and MICT groups (P 0.001). However, no significant differences were observed for Pentraxin-3 levels between different group (P=0.306), yet paired t test indicated that Pentraxin-3 levels significantly decreased in HIIT group (P=0.003). In addition, serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) significantly declined in HIIT and MICT groups (P 0.05). Conclusion: HIIT and MICT intervention results in a significant decrease in inflammatory mediators and HIIT protocol was not superior to MICT protocol for observed changes in inflammatory mediators.