The Effect of a Session of High and Low-intensity Resistance Exercise, with and without Blood Flow Restriction, on the Serum Levels of Irisin and Glycerol in Trained Men

Conducting exercises with various methods can have different effects on the body tissue. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of one session of resistance training with high and low intensities, while both restricting and not restricting the blood flow, on the levels of irisin and glycerol serum in trained male subjects.

This quasi-experimental study with a cross-group design and repeated measurements, was designed to determine the effects of one session of high and low-intensity exercise, with and without the blood flow restriction, on the levels of irisin and glycerol serum. For this purpose, 10 trained male participants with the age of 25±1.75 year, fat percentage of 15.7±4.7, and weight of 76.75 ± 7.95 kg were randomly selected from the available subjects. The subjects performed four resistance training protocols in 48 hours. Training protocols included: high-intensity resistance training (%75 1RM) with blood flow restriction. High-intensity resistance training (%75 1RM) without blood flow restriction. Low-intensity resistance training (%30 1RM) with blood flow restriction. And finally low intensity resistance training (%30 1RM) without blood flow restriction. Subsequently, after performing each protocol, levels of irisin and glycerol serum were examined using the ELISA method. Data were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA.

Although the changes in irisin levels were incremental, these changes were not significant. The changes in the level of glycerol, as a lipolysis level index, had significant changes due to different resistance training protocols (P≤0.05). There was also no significant relationship between irisin and glycerol secretion.

It seems that resistance activities with high and low intensity, with and without blood flow restriction, have no significant effects on the regulatory mechanisms of white fat browning through irisin secretion in trained men, but it causes more lipolysis.