[Effect of high intensity interval training and L-Arginine supplementation on serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 and atrial natriuretic peptide in overweight and obese young men]

Background and Aim: Activation of brown adipose tissue can be a new approach in reducing obesity and related complications. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of high intensity interval training [HIIT] supplemented with L-Arginine [L-Arg] .on serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 [FGF21] and atrial natriuretic peptide [ANP] in overweight and obese men

Materials and Methods: In this semi experimental study, 40 overweight and obese men [ with mean age 24.58+/-6.52 years and mean body mass index 29.43+/-3.66 kg/m2] were selected through purposive sampling method and were randomly divided into 4 equal groups of HIIT, supplementation with L-Arg, HIIT+ L-Arg ,and placebo. The training program consisted of 6 weeks of HIIT training [3 days.per week]. L-Arg supplementation [6 gr/day] was taken orally. Blood sampling was done 24 hours before and 48 hours after intervention and the blood serum was used for the measurement of FGF21 and ANP levels. The obtained data was analyzed using ANOVA, ANCOVA and post -hoc Bonferroni tests at a significant level of P<0.05

Results: It was found that the serum level of ANP significantly increased in L-Arg and HIIT+L-Arg groups [P values were 0.02 and 0.01, respectively], but HIIT did not cause a significant change in the level of ANP. The serum level of FGF21 had no significant changes after HIIT and use of L-Arg

Conclusion: It seems that L-Arg supplementation and HIIT together with L-Arg supplementation with increased level of ANP can be considered as an effective step to activate brown adipose tissue

[ role of aerobic training and Pistacia atlantica extract on the levels of protein carbonyl, heat shock protein 70, and glycogen in the liver tissue of diabetic rats]

Background and Aim: The use of medicinal herbs is taken as a healthy and effective alternative treatment for hyperglycemia and liver toxicity. Therefore, due to the positive effects of exercise training on diabetic patients, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of a 6 week period of aerobic training together with Pistacia atlantica extract taking on protein carbonyl [PC], heat shock protein 70 [HSP70], and glycogen levels in the liver tissues of diabetic rats

Materials and Methods: In this experimental research, 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: 1] healthy control, 2] diabetic control, 3] diabetic under aerobic training, 4] diabetics receiving Pistacia atlantica extract and 5] diabetics under aerobic training and receiving the extract. The six week period exercise program included aerobic training on a treadmill [5 sessions per week, 40 minutes per each session, with a speed of 20m/min and 5% incline]. Pistacia atlantica extract was fed 5 days per week [25mg/kg]. The rats were anesthetized.48 hours after the last training session, and their livers were isolated. Then, the level of their PC, HSP70, and hepatic glycogen were assessed by means of ELISA and chemical colorometry

Results: Mean level of PC in the diabetic group under aerobic training, diabetic group receiving pistacia extract, and the group under aerobic training together with receiving pistacia extract was significantly lower than that of the control diabetic group [P was 0.002, 0.006 and 0.002, respectively] but, mean level of PC was not significantly different in the three case groups. Mean level of HSP70 and glycogen in the three groups was not significantly different either [P was 0.21 and 0.59, respectively]

Conclusion: It was found that aerobic training and Pistacia atlantica extract consumption, either alone or together, led to a significant reduction in PC levels in the liver tissues of diabetic rats. Thus, Pistacia atlantica extract and aerobic training can be good remedies in reducing liver complications resulting from diabetes

[Effects of aerobic and resistance training on plasma visfatin levels in overweight women]

Visfatin, a novel adipokine, was revealed to be associated with obesity, but its role in response to exercise training in human is not known. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of aerobic and resistance training on plasma visfatin in overweight women. Thirty-eight overweight volunteer women [age 34.84 +/- 5.70 y, body mass index 28.82 +/- 3.65 kg/m2, body fat percent 36.34 +/- 3.39% and waist-hip ratio 0.85 +/- 0.04 [means +/- SD]] were randomly divided into 3 groups. 14 subjects participated in an aerobic exercise training [50 min/day, 80-85% heart rate-reserve, 4 days/week], 14 subjects participated in a resistance exercise training [50 min/day, 60-70% 1-RM, 4 days/week], and 10 overweight women were served as control. Fasting blood samples were collected to assess changes in plasma visfatin, insulin and glucose levels before and after 2 months of the training program. Findings indicated a lower and significant [P<0.05] post-training change in circulating levels of visfatin and insulin in the resistance training group as compared with the other groups. Body mass index, waist-hip ratio, and%body fat were significantly decreased [P<0.001] in experimental groups as compared with control group. The resistance exercise training-induced reduction of plasma visfatin is most likely the result of weight loss and body composition changes in overweight women

Effects of circuit resistance training intensity on the plasma ghrelin to obestatin ratios in healthy young women

Ghrelin and obestatin are orexigenic and anorexigenic peptides, respectively. It appears that an accurate balance between theses peptides is important for regulating energy homeostasis and body weight. The aim of this study was to identify the possible mechanisms by which circuit resistance training influences energy homeostasis and weight control. Twenty-seven female students with the mean age of 22 +/- 1.54 years and mean body mass index [BMI] of 20.76 +/- 1.86 kg/m2 were selected and randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Subjects performed circuit resistance training with 40% and 80% of 1 repetition maximum [1RM] for 4 weeks. Total plasma ghrelin, obestatin, and glucose levels and the ghrelin to obestatin ratio were measured for all subjects before and after training. One-way ANOVA tests showed that, the plasma ghrelin to obestatin ratio increased significantly in the 80% 1RM group [P < 0.05]. Furthermore, a significant reduction of the plasma obestatin level was found in this group [P < 0.05]. It appears that an energy deficit caused by circuit resistance training in 80% of the 1RM group resulted in the ghrelin precursor being increasingly used for ghrelin production. Thus, obestatin secretion decreased and the ghrelin to obestatin ratio increased in order to stimulate food intake and lost energy resource consumption to eventually restore the energy balance in the body