Comparison of the effect of 8 weeks of different exercises (endurance, resistance and combined) on serum levels of nesfatin-1 and insulin resistance index in women with type 2 diabetes

 Nesfatin-1 is an adipokine that is secreted from adipose tissue and is involved in the regulation of insulin action and glucose metabolism. The aim of this study was  Comparison the effect of 8 weeks different exercises (endurance, resistance and combined) on serum levels of nesfatin-1 and insulin resistance index in women with type 2 diabetes.

This quasi-experimental study included a pre-test and post-test with 3 experimental groups and one control group. The statistical sample of this research was included of women with type 2 diabetes, with an average age (50.82+6.7 years) and body mass index (29.82+4.35 Kg/m2), That were divided into four groups of 15 people: 1- aerobic training, 2- resistance training, 3- combined training and 4- control group. Blood samples were collected before the beginning of the exercises and 48 hours after the end of the exercises in the fasting state. Dependent T test was used to evaluate intra-group difference, ANOVA test was used to evaluate inter-group difference, significance level p < 0.05.

The findings showed that the serum levels of nesfatin-1 in the resistance training groups (p=0.02) and combined training (p=0.009) increased significantly after the intervention, the fasting glucose serum level in the aerobic groups ( (p=0.04) and combined (p=0.04), insulin serum level in the combined group (p=0.007), insulin resistance index in the combined group (p=0.006), serum TG level in aerobic groups (p=0.007) (p=0.006) and combined (p=0.006), LDL serum level in resistance groups (p=0.018) and combined (p=0.001), cholesterol serum level in aerobic groups (p=0.03), resistance (p=0.04) and combined (p=0.02), BMI index in the combined group (p=0.001), body fat percentage also decreased significantly in the combined group (p=0.04). Also, HDL serum levels in the aerobic (p=0.006) and combined (p=0.005) groups and beta cell performance index in the combined group (p=0.001) increased significantly.

According to the results of this study, it seems that combined exercises are a more suitable stimulus for increasing nesfatin-1 serum levels and reducing risk factors in women with type 2 diabetes.