Comparative effects of 8-week combined resistance exercise training and alternate-day calorie restriction on soluble epidermal growth factor receptor (sEGFR) and adipsin in obese men.

This study investigated the combined effects of resistance exercise training (RET) and alternate-day calorie restriction (ADCR) on body composition, insulin resistance (IR), insulin resistance-related biomarkers (adipokine adipsin and hepatokine soluble EFGR), and weight loss in obese men. The findings revealed that RET + ADCR induced the greatest reductions in body weight, body fat percentage, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) compared to RET and ADCR alone (p < 0.05). Additionally, RET + ADCR resulted in the most significant improvements in IR, as measured by HOMA-IR, and in circulating levels of adipsin and soluble EFGR (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that combining RET and ADCR may be a more effective strategy for improving metabolic health, including body composition, IR, and metabolic tissues' functions, in obese men than either intervention alone.

The effect of high-intensity interval training on serum and adipose tissues vaspin levels in rats fed a high-fat high-sucrose diet.

BACKGROUND: Vaspin is an adipocytokine with insulin-sensitizing and anti-inflammatory traits. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on serum, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue vaspin levels in rats exposed to a diet high in fat and sugar (HFS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into HFS and standard diet (SD) groups. After 12 weeks, each group was divided into sedentary and HIIT groups. HIIT program was performed 3 times/week for 8 weeks. Retroperitoneal adipose tissue, inguinal adipose tissue and serum were collected to analyze vaspin levels. Also, serum glucose and insulin levels, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and retroperitoneal and inguinal fat weights were measured. RESULTS: HFS significantly increased weight gain, weight of inguinal (p=0.001) and retroperitoneal fat depots (p<0.001), serum glucose levels (p<0.001) and HOMA-IR (p<0.001). The HIIT was able to decline weight gain and fat mass (p<0.05) but did not affect inguinal and retroperitoneal fat depots' vaspin levels. Eight weeks' HIIT significantly increased serum vaspin (p=0.002) and decreased insulin (p=0.001) levels only in rats fed with SD. CONCLUSIONS: Although the HIIT program can cause significantly reducing effects on weight gain and fat depots' weights, it does not effect on circulating and fat depots' vaspin levels in rats fed an HFS.

The Effects of Resistance Training on some Inflammatory Markers, Appetite-Regulating Peptides and Insulin Resistance Index in Obese Women.

Purpose: Obesity is associated with a chronic inflammatory condition, which plays an important role in the development of insulin resistance and disorder in appetite regulation. Resistance training (RT) can improve low-grade systemic inflammation caused by obesity by improving body composition. Hence, this study aimed to investigate whether RT with improvement in inflammatory status leads to improvement of metabolic markers and appetite-regulating peptides in obese women. Methods: Sixteen obese and healthy women were randomly divided into RT and control groups. The RT group participated in 8 weeks of RT. Blood samples and anthropometric characteristics were taken before the start of the exercise protocol and 3 days after the last training session. Serum levels of leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), fasting glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were also measured. Results: After 8 weeks of training, body weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI) in the control group increased significantly (P < 0.01), but in the training group, anthropometric characteristics remained unchanged. Serum levels of ghrelin and leptin, adiponectin and tumour necrosis factor remained unchanged after 8 weeks of RT. A significant increase in insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance levels was observed in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It seems that 8 weeks of RT is not enough to induce an anti-inflammatory response and improve body composition and subsequently improve appetite and metabolic markers.

The effects of circuit resistance training on plasma progranulin level, insulin resistance and body composition in obese men.

Background Progranulin (PGRN) is implicated in obesity and insulin resistance (IR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 8 weeks of circuit resistance training (CRT) on plasma PGRN, IR and body composition in obese men. Materials and methods Twenty-eight healthy obese men [age: 36 ± 7.7 years, body weight (BW): 96.4 ± 15.6 kg, body mass index (BMI): 32.4 ± 4.5 kg/m2] completed the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups of control and training. Subjects in the training group underwent training for 8 weeks, 3 times a week. Blood samples and anthropometric characteristics were taken before the commencement of the exercise protocol and 72 h after the last training session. The homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used to measure IR. Results BW, BF%, BMI, waist-hip ratio (WHR), HOMA-IR and plasma PGRN levels except lean body mass (LBM) were significantly reduced in the training group (p < 0.05). Additionally, except for LBM, subjects in the training group had significantly decreased BW, BF%, BMI, WHR, HOMA-IR and plasma PGRN levels compared to changes in those in the control group (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found between the changes in plasma PGRN and the changes in insulin, HOMA-IR and BMI (p < 0.05). Conclusions The findings showed that 8 weeks of CRT improved body composition and IR which were accompanied by reduced plasma PGRN levels. This study suggests that CRT has the potential for obese individuals to counteract obesity-associated health impairments.

High intensity intermittent training induces anti-inflammatory cytokine responses and improves body composition in overweight adolescent boys.

Background Anti-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) modulate systemic energy metabolism through modifying body composition parameters. Hence, this study aimed at overweight adolescent boys to explore the effect of high intensity intermittent training (HIIT) on these anti-inflammatory cytokines and body composition parameters. Materials and methods Twenty overweight adolescent boys [aged: 18.0 ± 1.5 years, weight: 81.8 ± 4.3 kg, body mass index (BMI): 27.6 ± 0.8 kg/m2] completed this study. The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups of control (CG, n = 10) and training (TG, n = 10). Subjects in the TG performed their training sessions 3 days/week for 6 weeks. The baseline serum values of IL-4 and IL-13 and anthropometric features were measured 1 day before the beginning of exercise intervention and 1 day after the last training session in a fasting state. Results Six weeks of HIIT significantly increased the baseline serum levels of IL-4 (p = 0.022) and IL-13 (p = 0.014) in overweight adolescent boys. In addition, body weight (BW), BMI and body fat percent (BF%) were reduced in response to HIIT. Moreover, significantly negative correlations were found between changes of IL-4 and IL-13 with changes of BW, BMI and BF%. Conclusions HIIT seems to be an appropriate exercise modality for overweight adolescent boys to induce an anti-inflammatory cytokine response and, to improve body composition.

Exercise training prevents high-fat diet-induced adipose tissue remodeling by promoting capillary density and macrophage polarization.

AIMS: Increasing adipose tissue capillarization is beneficial to metabolic health. The present study examined the effects of continuous training (CT) and aerobic-interval training (AIT) coinciding with a high-fat diet (HFD) on capillary density, macrophage polarization in mesenteric (mAT) and subcutaneous (sAT) adipose tissue. MAIN METHODS: 48 male Wistar rats were divided into HFD and normal diet (ND) groups. After 10 weeks, each group was divided into sedentary, CT, and AIT. The animals in training groups performed 10-week matched distances of CT and AIT on a motorized treadmill (5 times/week). KEY FINDINGS: The results showed that HFD significantly reduced the capillary density of adipose tissue (sAT: 54% vs. mAT:49%) and increased systemic insulin resistance, mean adipocyte size, crown-like structure (CLs), and M1-macrophages with no change in the total number of adipocytes in either tissue. Exercise training reversed the HFD induced adipose tissue dysfunction. Compared to CT, AIT was more effective on increasing the capillary density of sAT (170 vs. 87%) and mAT (140 vs. 100%). Likewise, AIT increased the capillary density of both tissues even in comparison to the ND sedentary group (~25%). Compared with CT as well, AIT more significantly increased the number of M2 macrophages (181 vs. 122%) and decreased CLs (60 vs. 38%) in mAT. SIGNIFICANCE: The findings suggest that hypertrophy is a major contributor to adipose tissue expansion in obesity. Furthermore, exercise training largely demonstrated beneficial effects on adipose tissue remodeling, where AIT is more effective than CT in reducing HFD-induced adipose tissue dysfunction.

Short term resistance training enhanced plasma apoA-I and FABP4 levels in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is associated with a high risk for early atherosclerotic complications. Altered lipids and lipoprotein metabolism in chronic diabetes mellitus is associated with pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 4 weeks resistance training on plasma lipid profile, fatty acid binding protein (FABP) 4 and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I levels in type 1 diabetic rats. METHODS: Thirty two male Wister rats (12-14 weeks old) were randomly divided into four groups: non-diabetic control; non-diabetic trained; diabetic control; diabetic trained. The rats in training groups were subjected to a resistance training program (3 days/wk, for 4 wk) consisted of climbing a ladder carrying a load suspended from the tail. RESULTS: Diabetic inducing increased plasma apoA-I and decreased FABP4 levels compared with non-diabetic control group (respectively, P = 0.001 & P = 0.041). After 4 weeks' resistance training, plasma levels of apoA-I and FABP4 in the diabetic trained rats were significantly higher compared with the diabetic control group (respectively, P = 0.003 & P = 0.017). Plasma HDL-C level in diabetic trained group was higher than diabetic control group (P = 0.048). Liver triglycerides concentrations were significantly lower in both trained (non-diabetic and diabetic) groups compared with their control groups (respectively, P = 0.041 and P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: These data indicated that resistance training may be an efficient intervention strategy to increase plasma apoA-I, HDL-C and FABP4 concentrations, along with decreases liver triglycerides in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Further research is needed to elucidate physiological significance of circulating FABP4 levels.

Effect of resistance training on plasma nitric oxide and asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations in type I diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) has a predominant role in progression of some cardiovascular diseases, including diabetes. It interferes with L-arginine in production of nitric oxide (NO) by inhibition of NO synthase. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of resistance training on plasma NO and ADMA concentrations in type 1 diabetic male rats. METHODS: Thirty-six male wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: (1) control; (2) diabetic; (3) diabetic trained, and (4) control trained (n = 9 each). In the trained groups, the animals undertook one training session per day, 3 days/week, for 4 weeks. At the end of experiment, blood samples were taken and the concentrations of plasma glucose, insulin, lipid profile, NO and ADMA concentrations were determined. RESULTS: plasma ADMA concentration showed a significant increase in diabetic rats compare to control group (0.73 ± 0.07 vs. 0.62 ± 0.04 µmol/l; P < 0.05). The plasma ADMA level in the trained diabetic and control were lower than the sedentary groups, although it was not statistically significant. Plasma NO concentration in diabetic group was lower than control (P < 0.05). Resistance training significantly increased plasma NO concentration in diabetic animals (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Elevated ADMA level in diabetic animals can normalize during resistance exercise. Reduced ADMA level and increased NO level following resistance training might improve cardiovascular risk in diabetic subjects.

Resistance training decreases serum inflammatory markers in diabetic rats.

Inflammation plays an important role in the genesis and progression of diabetes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance training on serum levels of some inflammatory markers associated with diabetes mellitus. Twenty-four male Wistar rats (290 ± 19 g) were randomly divided into three groups: non-diabetic control (non-DC), diabetic control (DC), and diabetic trained (DT). Animals in DT group were subjected to a resistance training program with the use of a ladder (3 days/week, for 4 weeks). Body weight, serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, fasting glucose, and insulin were measured. Four weeks of resistance training decreased serum levels of TNF-α, hs-CRP, and IL-6 in diabetic rats when compared with DC animals. We conclude that resistance training with appropriate intensity, duration, and recovery between exercise bouts has marked anti-inflammatory effects on diabetic rats. This may be an efficient strategy to protect against some diabetic complications.