Although it was with marginal significance, the lower gene expressions of Tlr4 (p = 0.138, t-test vs. H), Nod1 (p = 0.104, t-test vs. H) and Nod2 (p = 0.125, t-test vs. H) in HE compared to H suggested that exercise apparently reduces metabolic endotoxemia (Supplementary file: Supplementary Fig. 6 and Supplementary Table 6). Here, NOD2 is linked to hereditary elliptocytosis.