Diet and Exercise Have Beneficial Effects on Neuropathy

A team led by Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg Emerging Scholar Stephanie Eid, Ph.D., explored just that in research published in Diabetes.  Specifically, the impact of caloric restriction, high-intensity interval training (HIIT—a form of exercise that alternates between short bursts of intensity activity and periods of lower-intensity recovery), or a combination of both on metabolic health and PN in mice fed a high-fat diet. All interventions improved PN, but caloric restriction and the combination of caloric restriction and HIIT were more effective at improving metabolic health than HIIT alone. 

When examining potential neuroprotective mechanisms, they found that caloric restriction and caloric restriction with HIIT activated the fuel-sensing enzyme AMPK. In vitro, activating AMPK in Schwann cells that provide metabolic support and insulation (protection) for nerves reversed insulin resistance caused by the saturated fatty acid palmitate. These findings help us understand how diet and exercise promote nerve health and highlight the role of Schwann cells in PN and insulin resistance.

“These findings highlight the importance of lifestyle interventions, such as diet and exercise, in preventing and managing peripheral neuropathy,” explains Dr. Eid. “By leveraging these strategies, we can empower patients to take control of their health and potentially improve their nerve function and overall well-being.”

Additional authors: Bhumsoo Kim, Ph.D., John Hayes, Andrew Carter, Crystal Pacut, Adam Allouch, Emily Koubek, Ph.D., and Eva L. Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., all of University of Michigan, Sarah Elzinga, Ph.D., of Michigan State University, and Amy Rumora, Ph.D., of Columbia University.

Funding for this article was provided in part by the Robert and Katherine Jacobs Environmental Health Initiative, Sinai Medical Staff Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Edith S. Briskin/SKS Foundation NeuroNetwork Emerging Scholar Fund, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Novo Nordisk Foundation, NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, Tauber Family Student Internship Program, Andrea and Lawrence Wolfe Brain Health Initiative, Nathan and Rose Milstein Research Fund, and John H. Doran Neuropathy Research Fund.

Paper cited: Eid SA, Elzinga SE, Kim B, Rumora AE, Hayes JM, Carter A, Pacut C, Allouch AM, Koubek EJ, Feldman EL. High-Intensity Interval Training, Caloric Restriction, or Their Combination Have Beneficial Effects on Metabolically Acquired Peripheral Neuropathy. Diabetes. 2024 Nov 1;73(11):1895-1907. doi: 10.2337/db23-0997. PMID: 39163551; PMCID: PMC11493763.