Journal of Sport and Exercise Physiology

Journal of Sport and Exercise Physiology

The effect of 8 weeks of continuous exercise combined with omega-3 consumption on the expression of bile acid transporters and the amount of bile acids in the liver tissue of male rats with an induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease model

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Hamid Mohammadi 1
Rouhollah Ranjbar 1
Mohammad reza Tabandeh 2
Abdolhamid Habibi 1
1 Department of Sport Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
2 Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
10.48308/joeppa.2026.242561.1411
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common metabolic disorders associated with fat accumulation, inflammation, and impaired bile acid metabolism. Alterations in the expression of hepatic bile acid transporters play an important role in the progression of this disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of moderate-intensity continuous exercise combined with omega-3 supplementation on the expression of bile acid transporters and bile acid levels in the liver tissue of rats with NAFLD.

Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: healthy control, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), NAFLD with moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICT), NAFLD with omega-3 supplementation (OM3), and NAFLD with continuous exercise and omega-3. NAFLD was induced with a high-fat diet and 25% sucrose solution for 12 weeks. The continuous exercise protocol was performed four sessions per week for 8 weeks. The expression of hepatic bile acid transporters including sodium-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) and bile salt export pump (BSEP), bile acid concentrations, blood glucose, and lipid profile were measured following all protocols. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test.

Results: NAFLD increased bile acids, impaired metabolic profile, and decreased expression of bile transporters significantly (P
Keywords
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Continuous training
Omega-3
Bile acid transporter
Liver
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 19 November 2025
  • Revise Date 29 December 2025
  • Accept Date 13 January 2026
  • First Publish Date 13 January 2026
  • Publish Date 22 June 2026