Effects of combined therapy with resveratrol, continuous and interval exercises on apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers in the liver of old rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

CONTEXT: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disorder. OBJECTIVE: Effects of combined therapy with resveratrol, interval and continuous exercises on oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the liver of rats with NAFLD. METHODS: NAFLD rats were organised in patient, saline, resveratrol (RSV), continuous exercise, interval exercise, continuous exercise + RSV, and interval exercise + RSV groups. RESULTS: Resveratrol supplementation alone or in combination with interval and continuous training significantly decreased malondialdehyde and TNF-α level (p < .05), while the levels of catalase; superoxide dismutase and IL-10 were significantly increased (p < .05). Although RSV alone significantly decreased the percentage of apoptotic cells (17.12%), its combination with interval (10.74%), and continuous (14.85%) exercise training demonstrated higher anti-apoptotic activity (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Although resveratrol alone has an antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties, combined therapy with interval, and continuous training can be more effective to mitigate these abnormalities in NAFLD patients.