Qazaleh Asqari - Department of Sports Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran
Farhad Gholami - Department of Sports Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran
Jabbar Bashiri - Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Human Sciences, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
Adel Donyaei - Department of Sports Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

Background and aims: A high-fat diet increases triglyceride (TG) accumulations in hepatocytes and results in non-alcoholic fatty liverdiseases (NAFLDs). In this regard, this study investigated the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), along with a high-fat diet on theserum levels of aminotransferases in male Wistar rats.Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the standard diet, high-fat diet, exercise + standard diet, and exercise + high-fatdiet groups (each containing ۱۰ animals). HIIT program consisted of ۶-۱۲ repetitions of ۲-minute highs-intensity exercise (۸۵-۹۰% of themaximum speed) interspersed with ۱-minute low-intensity exercise (۴۵-۵۰% peak speed) with the frequency of ۵ sessions a week over ۱۲weeks. High-fat diet groups received a diet regimen including ۵۸% fat, ۲۵% protein, and ۱۷% carbohydrate, ad libitum. The blood sampleswere taken from the left ventricle ۴۸ hours following the last intervention to assess TG, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartateamino-transferase (AST) concentrations. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc tests.Results: The findings showed the mean of ALT, AST, and TG in the high-fat diet group was significantly greater compared to the standard dietgroup (P = ۰.۰۰۱). Furthermore, the mean of ALT, AST, and TG in the exercise + high-fat diet group was significantly lower in comparisonwith the high-fat diet group (P = ۰.۰۱, P = ۰.۰۱۷, and P = ۰.۰۱۲, respectively).Conclusion: Although HIIT ameliorated high-fat diet-induced elevations in the serum levels of TG, ALT, and AST, they did not reach thebaseline levels. Thus, it may indicate that a diet as the underlying cause of NAFLDs is more important than any other interventions suchas exercise.

High-intensity interval training, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase, High-fat diet