Protective effects of exercise and various forms of diets against ulcerative colitis in rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate tissue cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10 TNF-α and TGF-β1), serum CRP levels and macroscopic/microscopic scoring in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis model and to investigate the possible protective effect of exercise and nutrition against ulcerative colitis and their roles in this process. The study was carried out with 9 groups of 7 rats each including control, standard diet+colitis (K), standard diet+colitis+exercise (K+E), high protein diet+colitis (P), high fat diet+colitis (Y), high carbohydrate diet+colitis (YK), exercise+high protein diet+colitis (E+P), high fat diet+colitis+exercise (E+Y), exercise+high carbohydrate diet+colitis (E+YK). A total of 63 male Wistar albino rats weighing 200-300 grams and 8-10 weeks old were used. The exercise groups were subjected to swimming exercise 3 days a week for 60 min per day. Serum CRP levels in the K, Y and YK groups were significantly higher than in the control group, while serum CRP levels in the E+K, E+P, P, E+Y groups were significantly lower than in the K group. Tissue IL-6 levels in the E+P group were significantly lower than in the P group. In the Y group, tissue IL-6 and IL-1β levels were significantly lower than in the K group. At the same time, tissue IL-6 levels in the E+Y group were significantly lower than in the K group. In the E+K, E+P, E+Y and E+YK groups, TGF- β1 levels were significantly lower than in the non-exercising K, P, Y and YK groups. Swimming exercise has been shown to play a protective role against ulcerative colitis both alone and in combination with different types of diet. Surprisingly, it was also observed that a high-fat diet caused an improvement in inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-6 and IL-1β) compared to standard and other diet types. Based on these data it is suggested that swimming exercise may be protective against the development of colitis disease independent of diet.