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Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is associated with dyslipidemia, which contributes to a higher risk of thrombosis, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. This study evaluated the effects of leucine and resistance training on the serum lipid profile in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes for 8 weeks., Methods: Wistar rats with neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetes were treated with leucine supplementation (5%) and/or resistance training (3 days per week) for 8 weeks, and divided in DL (diabetic and leucine), DT (diabetic and resistance training group) and DLT (diabetic, leucine and resistance training) groups. Others 2 groups of animals received isonitrogen AIN-93M diet that was defined as a control diet: group D (diabetic untreated) and group C (non-diabetic)., Results: The decrease in serum total cholesterol and increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was observed in the resistance training-induced diabetic rats when compared with diabetic rats. There was no change in serum lipid profile in leucine-supplemented diabetic rats and no synergistic effect of leucine and resistance training. The fasting glucose levels were reduced in all animals treated compared to D group., Conclusion: The diabetic trained rats demonstrate a protective effect of resistance training on the serum lipid profile.

Leucine supplementation and resistance training positively influence the protein translation process and the cell signaling mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway that regulates muscle protein balance and muscle remodeling, and thus may be therapeutic to diabetic myopathy. However, the effect of a combined intervention has not been well studied. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups, control (C), diabetic control (D), diabetic + trained ( DT), diabetic + L-leucine ( DL), diabetic + L-leucine + trained ( DLT). The supplementation of 5% leucine in chow, and resistance training were conducted for 8 weeks postweaning of rats. The extensor digitorum longus was used to assess signaling proteins involved in muscle protein synthesis, and the gastrocnemius and soleus were used for determination of muscle weight. Blood samples were collected for biochemical assays. Strength and ambulation tests were employed to evaluate motor performance. Results showed that both leucine supplementation and resistance training elevated the activity of mTOR-p70S6K in diabetic rats ( P < 0.05). Moreover, though leucine supplementation in combination with resistance training demonstrated synergistic effects on p70S6K ( P < 0.05), both treatments were capable of recovering motor performance ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, 5% leucine supplementation combined with resistance training has the potential to attenuate muscle loss and motor performance decrements in diabetic rats, at least in part through increased protein synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]