Vitamin D increases PPARγ expression and promotes beneficial effects of physical activity in metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and vitamin D signaling pathways regulate a multitude of genes involved in different physiological functions. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of vitamin D supplementation and aerobic training on metabolic syndrome and PPARγ expression.


METHODS
Forty female ovariectomized rats were divided into five groups of aerobic training with high (OVX + Exe + HD), moderate (OVX + Exe + MD), and low dose of vitamin D (OVX + Exe + LD), aerobic training receving vehicle (sesame oil; OVX + Exe + oil), and sham-operated control (sham) groups. After 2 mo of treatment, serum insulin, vitamin D, glucose, lipid profile, visceral fat, and liver PPARγ gene expression were measured.


RESULTS
The combination of exercise and high doses of vitamin D significantly reduced insulin (P = 0.039), blood glucose (P = 0.024), and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (P = 0.011), and elevated PPARγ gene expression (P = 0.032). Also, treatment with aerobic training and either high or moderate vitamin D, ameliorated overall metabolic syndrome Z scores (P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings from the present study suggested that a sedentary lifestyle and vitamin D deficiency accelerated the occurrence of metabolic syndrome probably by decreasing the expression of nuclear receptor PPARγ. Additionally, adequate levels of plasma vitamin D are necessary to achieve the beneficial metabolic effects of physical activity.
Department of Sports Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
Rastegar
R
Hoseini
Department of Sports Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
Arsalan
A
Damirchi
Department of Physiology, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. Electronic address: p_babaei@gums.ac.ir.
Parvin
P
Babaei
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D047495:PPAR gamma; D014280:Triglycerides; D014807:Vitamin D; D002784:Cholesterol
Exercise; Metabolic syndrome; PPARγ; Vitamin D