Although physics exercise has been utilized to prevent and treat a variety of metabolic diseases, its role in obesity-related kidney diseases remains poorly understood. In this study, we assessed the protective potential of moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) against high fat diet (HFD)-induced kidney injury and found that MICT could significantly reduce obesity indexes (body weight, serum glucose, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol) and kidney injury indexes (serum creatinine and the expression of Kim-1 mRNA) in HFD-fed mice. PAS staining and Masson staining displayed that MICT maintained the morphological structure of kidney subunits and reduced kidney fibrosis in HFD-fed mice. By kidney RNA-seq, we identified several genes and pathways (Cd9, Foxq1, Mier3, TGF-β signaling pathway etc.) that might underlie HFD-induced kidney injury and MICT-mediated protective effects. In conclusion, this study revealed the protective role of MICT in HFD-induced kidney injury and suggested potential targets for the prevention and treatment of obesity-related kidney diseases.

Background: Obesity threatens human health, and interventions to reduce obesity may have important effects on the gut microbiota. This study investigated alterations in gut microbial composition in response to aerobic exercise (AE) and intermittent fasting (IF). Methods: We randomly divided mice into four groups of seven mice each: normal, obesity, exercise, and fasting. The normal group was fed a Chow Diet, whereas the other three groups were fed a High Fat Diet (HFD). After 13 weeks, the exercise group was subjected to aerobic treadmill running, and the fasting group started IF for 8 weeks. We then analyzed the composition of the fecal microbiome in all mice at the end of 21 weeks. Results: Our investigation revealed that the HFD significantly influenced species (s)_Romboutsia ilealis, genus (g)_Dubosiella, and g_Blautia. AE predominantly affected family (f)_Rhizobiaceae and g_Rikenella, indicating its impact on enhancing microbial taxa associated with improved metabolic health profiles. On the other hand, IF prominently altered the abundance of s_Lactobacillus johnsonii and g_Colidextribacter, which are known for their roles in enhancing glucolipid metabolism and anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, the exercise group displayed increased diversity within f_Rhizobiaceae, potentially associated with anti-inflammatory benefits. The IF intervention was particularly effective in enriching s_Lactobacillus johnsonii, suggesting its pivotal role in regulating metabolic responses influenced by fasting. Conclusion: The results demonstrated significant beneficial alterations in microbial composition following AE and IF interventions, which supports the use of personalized approaches for obesity management and overall health.

Obesity, a worldwide epidemic, is often accompanied by renal dysfunction or accelerating kidney disease. Intermittent fasting (IF) has become a popular weight loss approach, but the data for obesity-related kidney disease are very limited. Moreover, there is currently no combined omics study on its related metabolism, mechanisms, and pathways. The purpose of this study was to examine the preventive effect of IF on renal injury induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and to explore the related pathways based on an omics analysis. We used an HFD to induce obesity-related renal injury. During IF intervention, the mice were allowed free access to regular chow every other day and were not provided food on the other day. Our result found that IF could effectively prevent obesity-related renal injury in glomerular morphological changes and urine components. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that IF affected the thermogenesis pathway, cholesterol metabolism pathway, and glycerolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways, and prevented and alleviated obesity-related renal injury through inflammation pathways and the insulin resistance pathway. This research would provide valuable data for the prevention and treatment of kidney diseases related to obesity.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of dietary interventions on kidney function in adults with obesity without chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials. Random-effects meta-analyses calculated standardized mean difference (SMD), with subgroup analyses by glomerular filtration rate (GFR) assessment method (estimated GFR [eGFR] vs. measured GFR [mGFR]). Results: Eighteen trials involving 1,438 participants were included. Dietary interventions showed no significant effect on GFR (SMD: 0.06; 95% CI: −0.20 to 0.32; p = 0.642). In subgroup analyses, eGFR increased significantly whereas mGFR showed a non-significant reduction ( p = 0.0005 for subgroup differences). No significant effect was found for urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) (SMD: −0.04; 95% CI: −0.39 to 0.30; p = 0.765). Creatinine clearance (CrCl) showed a significant increase (SMD: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.41; p = 0.030). Conclusion: Dietary interventions showed inconsistent effects across kidney function measures in adults with obesity without CKD. Although significant improvements were observed in certain kidney function-related indices (eGFR and CrCl), the available evidence did not indicate improved true filtration or reduced urinary albumin excretion. Importantly, these findings suggest that the apparent renal effects of dietary intervention depend on how kidney function is assessed. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261297927 , CRD420261297927.