The Effect of Four Weeks of Swimming Training on Insulin Resistance and Hepatokines in Rats with PCOS

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder in women. Several factors are thought to be affected by exercise, including insulin resistance (IR), FGF-21, and PNPLA3. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of swimming training on IR, FGF-21, and PNPLA-3 gene expression in the liver of rats with PCOS. Methods: A total of 24 adult female Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Healthy control group, PCOS control group, healthy exercise group, and PCOS exercise group. Submaximal endurance swimming training was performed using different water flow rates from seven to 15 liters/minute for four weeks, five days per week for 60 minutes. The IR level and expression of FGF-21 and PNPLA3 genes were measured from the liver tissue. Data was analyzed using SPSS software (version 25) and one-way ANOVA (P < 0.05). Results: Based on the results, a significant difference in the amount of IR (P = 0.001), gene expression of FGF-21 (P = 0.001), and PNPLA-3 (P = 0.001) after four weeks of swimming training was decreased. Conclusions: Four weeks of swimming training improves the metabolic pathway and positively affects patients with PCOS.