| Objective To investigate the effects of different intensity of running exercise combined with metformin on bone mineral density (BMD), bone metabolism, and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients with osteoporosis (DOP), and to provide a basis for rational formulation of drug use and exercise intensity in a combination of exercise and drug prescription. Methods A total of 120 rats were adaptively fed for 15 days. Among those, 100 rats were selected to establish the DOP animal model, and the remaining 20 rats were fed normally. The animal model of DOP was tested. The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into model control group (DM group), metformin group (MF group), low intensity running + metformin group (LM group), medium intensity running + metformin group (MM group), and high-intensity running + metformin group (HM group).The remaining 20 rats were in the control group (group C). All the rats were pre-tested, including: BMD, fasting blood glucose concentration (FPG), fasting insulin level (FINS), insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TRACP, DPD, biomechanical properties, and other indicators. After the pre-test, rats in each group were scheduled to undergo a 12-week intervention. Post-intervention test was performed after the intervention. Results In terms of body mass, the body weight of rats in group C was significantly higher than that in DM group, LM group, MM group, HM group, and MF group at the 4th, 8th, and 12th week of intervention. The body mass of the rats in LM group was significantly lower than that of the DM group (P<0.05). In terms of BMD, BMD in LM group, MM group, HM group, and MF group was significantly higher than that in the pre-test and DM groups, but it was still significantly lower than that in the C group (P<0.05). In terms of bone metabolism, the urinary HOP, urine DPD, and plasma TRACP values in LM group, MM group, HM group, and MF group were significantly lower than those in the pre-test and DM groups, but still significantly higher than those in the C group (P<0.05). In the aspect of glucose metabolism, the values of FPG and FINS in LM group, MM group, HM group, and MF group were significantly lower than those in the pre-test, DM group, and HM group, but significantly higher than those in group C. In the aspect of insulin resistance, HOMA-IR values in MM group, HM group, and MF group were significantly lower than those in the pre-test, MF, and HM groups, but significantly higher than those in the LM and MM groups (P<0.05). In lipid metabolism, levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C in LM group, MM group, HM group, and MF group were significantly lower than those of the pre-test and DM group, but significantly higher than those in the C group (P<0.05). The measured values of TG, TC, and LDL-C in LM group were significantly lower than those in HM group and MF group (P<0.05). The post-test values of HDL-C in LM group, MM group, HM group, and MF group were significantly higher than those in the pre-test and DM group, but significantly lower than those in group C (P<0.05). Conclusion The treatment of metformin combined with running maintains the body weight, reduces blood lipids, blood glucose, relieve insulin resistances, increases BMD, and improves bone metabolism in rats. Metformin combined with low-intensity running program is superior to metformin combined with high-intensity running program in terms of weight control, lowering blood fat and blood glucose, and relieving insulin resistance. Metformin combined with high-intensity running program has an advantage in the improvement of BMD, comparing to metformin in combination with low-intensity running programs in type 2 diabetic rats with osteoporosis. |