Changes in Serum Myostatin and Follistatin to 8 Weeks of Resistance Training in Elderly Men with Type 2 Diabetes

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of resistance training on serum levels of myostatin, follistatin and insulin resistance in elderly men with type 2 diabetes. For this purpose, 20 elderly men with type 2 diabetes (age: 72.45 ± 4.97, weight: 79.70 ± 12.57, BMI: 27.91 ± 4.07) were selected and randomly divided into two groups: resistance training (n = 10) and control (n = 10). The resistance training group performed 8 movements in 3 sets with 10 repetitions at 70% 1RM for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week. Blood samples were collected at baseline and 48 hours following the last training session. The paired t test and ANCOVA were used to analyze data in the significance level of 0.05. The results of intra-group data analysis showed that 8 weeks of resistance training significantly increased lower and upper extremity strength (P=0.001) and serum levels of follistatin (P=0.008), and significantly decreased serum levels of myostatin (P=0.03), insulin, glucose and insulin resistance index (P=0.001) in elderly men with type 2 diabetes. Also, intergroup changes showed that resistance training group showed a significant increase in lower and upper extremity strength (P=0.001) and serum levels of follistatin (P=0.01) and a significant decrease in serum levels of myostatin (P=0.01), insulin, glucose and insulin resistance index (P=0.001). Resistance training program with follistatin upregulation and myostatin downregulation influences the improvement of the metabolism of glucose degraded by insulin resistance in the elderly with type 2 diabetes which also affects muscle strength.