Effect of Intensive Aerobic Interval Training on some Serum Cytokines and Insulin Resistance in Obese Men

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of intensive aerobic interval training (AIT) on serum IL-10, IL-17 and insulin resistance in obese men. Nineteen sedentary obese men (mean age: 39 ± 5.6 years) were randomly divided into two groups including the IAIT (n = 9) and the control (n = 10) groups. Blood samples were taken in fasting state from all subjects. The AIT program included interval running at an intensity corresponding to 80 - 90% of maximal heart rate, three times a week for 12 weeks, while the control group maintained sedentary during study. The AIT caused a significant increases in serum level of - IL-17 (P = 0.046), and the VO2max (P = 0.003), also a significant decreases in body weight (P = 0.004), waist to hip ratio (WHR) (P = 0.023), body fat percent (P = 0.011), insulin (P = 0.000) and insulin resistance (P = 0.004). While, the serum IL-10 levels of two groups remained unchanged. In the both groups (n = 19), VO2max was negatively correlated with baseline insulin concentration (r = -0.58). Also, changes in serum IL-17 levels was negatively correlated with change in insulin concentration in response to training (r = - 0.84). Based on the results, it is suggested that AIT can be used as a effective method for reducing inflammation and insulin resistance, improving body composition in healthy obese men.