EFFECTS OF PRACTICE AND INTERRUPTION OF TIME RESTRICTED FEEDING COMBINED WITH HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING IN BODY ADIPOSITY AND LIVER METABOLISM OF OVARIECTOMIZED MICE

• Grant number: 24/20548-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: José Rodrigo Pauli
• Grantee: Beatriz de Souza Pitoli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Menopause marks the end of female reproductive capacity and is characterized by a drop in the production of estrogen and progesterone. This hormonal decline results in a variety of symptoms, such as weight gain, insulin resistance, and an increased risk of metabolic diseases, including steatotic liver disease associated with metabolic dysfunction (MASLD). Hepatic metabolism is affected by increased lipogenesis, mediated by the transcription factor SRBP-1c (Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c), which regulates the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and, therefore, contributing to greater fat deposition in the liver. Furthermore, weight gain during menopause is associated with the accumulation of visceral fat, which increases the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Traditional strategies to combat the impacts of obesity, especially focused on calorie restriction and increased physical activity, do not always achieve the expected success and the effects are often discrete in the long term. Therefore, there is a clear need for new intervention proposals that can alleviate the negative impacts of obesity on health, which are easy to implement and more efficient. Therefore, our study aims to advance the understanding of the effects of practicing and ceasing the combination of time-restricted feeding (TRA) with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in ovariectomized mice, an animal model that simulates menopause in women, focusing on the prevention of MASLD and the analysis of weight regain after stopping interventions.