Background: Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine disorders. Muscular exercise possesses antioxidant property and can be a candidate in the treatment and prevention of diabetes complications. Cinnamon is a plant which displays antioxidant and glucose lowering effects. Flaxseeds are a promising alternative to reduce the risk of diseases associated with increased body weight as diabetes mellitus.
Objective: To study the effect of muscular exercise with cinnamon extract and/or flaxseeds extract on diabetic adult male albino rats.
Materials and Method: The present study was conducted on 72 adult male albino rats of a local strain divided into 9 equal groups:
Group I: Control received distilled water only.
Group II: Treated with flaxseeds extract (400 mg/kg orally).
Group III: Treated with cinnamon extract (200 mg/kg orally).
Group IV: Control practiced swimming program.
Group V: Diabetic control rats.
Group VI: Diabetic rats practiced swimming program.
Group VII: Diabetic practiced swimming program and received flaxseeds extract.
Group VIII: Diabetic practiced swimming program and received cinnamon extract.
Group IX: Diabetic practiced swimming program and received both flaxseeds and cinnamon extract.
     Rats submitted to swimming program, received flaxseeds and cinnamon extracts after induction of diabetes according to the study groups, and submitted to body weight and food consumption assessment. At the end of the study, fasting plasma glucose level, blood insulin level, HbA1c, lipid profile, reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured.
Results: In diabetic rat's submitted to swimming and received flaxseeds and cinnamon extracts, body weight relative to food consumption decreased. Fasting plasma glucose level and blood insulin level improved. No change in HBA1c. Lipid profile improved, reduced glutathione (GSH) increased in flaxseeds and cinnamon diabetic groups. Malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased in swimmed, flaxseeds and cinnamon diabetic groups. Histo-pathological architecture improved. The effect of combination of swimming, flaxseeds and cinnamon improved all parameters.
Conclusion: Exercise with receiving flaxseeds extract or cinnamon extract in adult male diabetic rats improve body weight, glucose and insulin level, lipid profile, oxidative stress markers and tissue pathology, and the combination was more potent than each one alone.