Resistance training prevents liver fat accumulation in ovariectomized rats

Menopause is associated with increased lipid deposition in the liver and fat accumulation in the abdomen.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of adding a resistance training program (RT) to a restrictive diet (RD) on liver lipid accumulation and abdominal fat depots in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats.

One group of sham-operated and three groups of Ovx rats were compared. Five weeks after surgery, Ovx rats were either submitted to an approximately 25% RD with or without RT for 3 or 8 weeks, while a third group of Ovx rats were fed ad libitum and remained sedentary. The RT program consisted of climbing a 6m vertical metal grill five times a week with an increasing load up to 75% of body weight attached to the tail. The number of repetitions increased from two to four sets of 10 repetitions.

Ovariectomy resulted in significantly higher (P<0.01) body weight, energy intake, intra-abdominal fat depots, plasma leptin levels (P<0.05), and liver triacylglycerol concentrations. All of these responses were (P<0.01) reduced in Ovx rats following the RD with the exception of liver lipid infiltration. The addition of RT to the RD treatment synergistically reduced abdominal fat deposition and plasma-free fatty acid levels. Moreover, liver lipid infiltration was completely prevented by the addition of the RT program. Muscle mass relative to body weight was significantly increased in Ovx-RD-RT compared to all other groups.

It is concluded that RT is an asset to minimize the deleterious effects of ovarian hormone withdrawal on liver lipid accumulation and abdominal fat accumulation in Ovx rats.