High-fat diet causes fat gain and tissue inflammation, which may be reduced by whey protein and aerobic exercise

After 10 weeks of aerobic training and whey protein supplementation, both interventions reduced fat pad weight and inflammation markers in rats fed a high-fat diet.

• A high-fat diet significantly increased body weight, adiposity index, fat pad weight, glucose levels, and insulin resistance compared to a normal diet.
• Levels of inflammation markers TNF-α, MCP-1, HIF-1α, and VEGF-A were elevated in the adipose tissue of rats on a high-fat diet.
• Whey protein supplementation reduced glucose levels, insulin resistance index, and triglycerides independently of aerobic training.
• Both aerobic training and whey protein led to reductions in fat pad weight and levels of TNF-α, HIF-1α, and VEGF-A in adipose tissue.
• No significant reductions in MCP-1 levels in adipose tissue or serum TNF-α and MCP-1 were observed with either intervention.

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