Abstract
Background: Exercise and some pre-AKI diets have been shown to improve injury, apoptosis, and lipid profile. In this
study, the effect of two different diets along with exercise training on acute kidney injury (AKI) was investigated.
Materials and methods: Laboratory rats were randomly divided into four groups of control, standard diet + exercise,
exercise + calorie restriction (CR) and exercise + time restriction (TR). Each group was divided into two subgroups of
AKI and no AKI. The animals received endurance training and diet regimens before AKI. Fasting blood glucose, serum
creatinine, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) and histopathological outcome of renal tissue as
well as serum lipid profile of animals were assessed 24 h after AKI.
Results: The percentage of changes in renal Bcl2 and Bax after AKI in the group with previous exercise was lower
than the group without previous exercise (p < 0.01). After induction of AKI, serum lipid profile changed in nonexercised
rats (p < 0.001). Also, after injury, fasting blood glucose levels increased in non-exercised rats (p < 0.05). After
injury, the start of both CR and TR diets during exercise caused less change in Bcl2 and Bax of non-exercised rats
compared to exercised rats (p < 0.001). CR diet along with exercise improved lipid profile, and also CR diet along exercise
decreased fasting blood glucose levels (p < 0.001). Also, both the CR and TR diets during exercise caused fewer
changes in histopathological outcome after AKI.
Conclusion: Exercise alone decreased changes in apoptotic and histopathological indexes, fasting blood glucose, as
well as lipid profile of rats after AKI. Reduction of apoptosis and improvement of histopathological outcome after AKI
appeared more when CR and TR diets were commenced during exercise. The reduction of lipid profile changes was
more pronounced in the group that received CR diet during exercise.