Effects of Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise on Liver Metabolomics in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet

Background/Objectives: Obesity is linked to hepatic metabolic dysfunction and inflammation. Combined aerobic and resistance exercise is associated with improved body composition, but its effects on liver metabolomics remain unclear. This study examined an 8-week combined exercise intervention in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice.

Methods

A subset of 18 male C57BL/6J mice from a larger well-characterized cohort was divided into three groups (n = 6/group): standard diet control (C), HFD model (HF), and HFD with combined exercise (HFAR). The intervention comprised treadmill running (12–15 m/min, 30–60 min/day) and weighted ladder climbing (10–70% body weight load), 6 days/week. Hepatic steatosis was assessed using H&E and Oil Red O staining. Hepatic lipids, transaminases (ALT/AST), and cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) were measured by ELISA. Liver metabolomics was performed via LC-MS-based untargeted profiling.