Evaluation of the Effect of Moderate Physical Activity on Biochemical Markers of Glucose, Cholesterol, and Enzymes in Rodents

Abstract

A comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of an aerobic exercise training program versus a sedentary lifestyle on biochemical markers of high-fat diet–induced metabolic dysregulation in male Wistar rats. Forty rats were randomly assigned to either a training group (n = 20), which performed treadmill exercise five days per week at moderate intensity (15–22 m/min), or a control group (n = 20), which remained sedentary. Blood samples were collected from all rats at baseline and after the 8‑week intervention. Assessed parameters included fasting serum glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum lipoproteins (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides), and hepatic and skeletal muscle enzymes (ALT, AST, creatine kinase, LDH). Statistical analyses were performed using paired and independent-sample t‑tests (SPSS v26; α = 0.05). Significant reductions were observed in the training group for fasting glucose (−25.5%, p < 0.001), LDL (−22.1%), and triglycerides (−24.1%), alongside a significant increase in HDL (+35.4%). Improvements in liver enzymes (ALT: −32.8%, AST: −24.0%) and creatine kinase (+29.9%) were also noted within the physiologic adaptation range. No clinically relevant changes were detected in the control group. These findings suggest that structured, moderate‑intensity aerobic exercise can mitigate diet‑induced metabolic dysregulation in rodent models and provide preliminary evidence supporting the potential translation of these results to human populations for metabolic disease prevention.