Investigation of Effect of one Session Moderate and Heavy Resistance Exercise on Acute and Delayed Responses of Leptin, Insulin, Cortisol, Testosterone and 24- Hour Energy Expenditure in Healthy Men

The aim of this experimental, cross-sectional study was to investigate the effect of one session of moderate and heavy resistance exercise on the acute and delayed responses of leptin, insulin, cortisol, testosterone and 24-hour energy expenditure in healthy men. Thirteen healthy men (age 37.5yr, body mass index 26.40kg/m2, body fat 22.46%) randomly participated in three exercise groups, the moderate resistance exercise (MR, 3 sets × 10 repetitions at 70 % 1 repetition maximum (1RM)), the heavy resistance exercise (HR, 3 sets × 10 repetitions at 80 % 1RM) and the controls(C). Blood samples were taken (after overnight fasting) before and immediately after exercise and after 4 and 9 hours of recovery. Serum leptin, insulin, cortisol and testosterone concentrations were measured using ELISA methods. After adjusting for percentage changes of plasma volume, serum leptin reduced immediately after exercise and control sessions but returned to primary levels after 9 hours of recovery (p<0.05). Immediately after exercise and control sessions, serum cortisol and testosterone decreased and serum insulin increased. No significant change was seen in 24-hour energy expenditure after MR and HR protocols. To conclude there were no meaningful acute and delayed effects of moderate and heavy resistance exercise on serum leptin, insulin, cortisol, testosterone and 24- hour's energy expenditure in healthy men.