Impact of combined resistance and aerobic exercise training on branched-chain amino acid turnover, glycine metabolism and insulin sensitivity in overweight humans

Leptin, the product of the ob gene, is elevated in obese humans and appears to be closely related to body fat content. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effect of aerobic exercise training on systemic leptin levels in humans. Eighteen sedentary middle-aged men (n = 9) and women (n = 9) who did not differ in aerobic capacity (29.4 +/- 1.2 vs. 27.5 +/- 1.2 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) or insulin sensitivity index (3.41 +/- 1.12 vs. 4.88 +/- 0.55) were studied. Fat mass was significantly lower in females vs. males (21.83 +/- 2.25 vs. 26.99 +/- 2.37 kg, P < 0.05). Despite this, fasting serum leptin was significantly higher in the females vs. males (18.27 +/- 2.55 vs. 9.88 +/- 1.26 ng/ml, P < 0.05). Serum leptin concentration decreased 17.5% in females (P < 0.05) after 12 wk of aerobic exercise training (4 day/wk, 30-45 min/day) but was not significantly reduced in males. Fat mass was not altered after training in either group. In contrast, both aerobic capacity (+13% males, +9.1% females) and insulin sensitivity (+35% males, +82% females) were significantly improved subsequent to training. These data suggest that 1) women have higher circulating leptin concentrations despite lower fat mass and 2) exercise training appears to have a greater effect on systemic leptin levels in females than in males.

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Aerobic Exercise Training Prevents Insulin Resistance and Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in LDL Receptor Knockout Mice Chronically Fed a Low-Sodium Diet

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072174 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2174

Author(s):

Guilherme da Silva Ferreira ◽

Ana Paula Garcia Bochi ◽

Paula Ramos Pinto ◽

Vanessa Del Bianco ◽

Letícia Gomes Rodrigues ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Insulin Resistance ◽

Insulin Sensitivity ◽

Exercise Training ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Body Mass ◽

Ldl Receptor ◽

Oxidative Capacity ◽

Aerobic Exercise Training ◽

Low Sodium

Background: A low-sodium (LS) diet reduces blood pressure, contributing to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. However, intense dietary sodium restriction impairs insulin sensitivity and worsens lipid profile. Considering the benefits of aerobic exercise training (AET), the effect of LS diet and AET in hepatic lipid content and gene expression was investigated in LDL receptor knockout (LDLr-KO) mice. Methods: Twelve-week-old male LDLr-KO mice fed a normal sodium (NS) or LS diet were kept sedentary (S) or trained (T) for 90 days. Body mass, plasma lipids, insulin tolerance testing, hepatic triglyceride (TG) content, gene expression, and citrate synthase (CS) activity were determined. Results were compared by 2-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-test. Results: Compared to NS, LS increased body mass and plasma TG, and impaired insulin sensitivity, which was prevented by AET. The LS-S group, but not the LS-T group, presented greater hepatic TG than the NS-S group. The LS diet increased the expression of genes related to insulin resistance (ApocIII, G6pc, Pck1) and reduced those involved in oxidative capacity (Prkaa1, Prkaa2, Ppara, Lipe) and lipoprotein assembly (Mttp). Conclusion: AET prevented the LS-diet-induced TG accumulation in the liver by improving insulin sensitivity and the expression of insulin-regulated genes and oxidative capacity.

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