The effect of different intensity circuit resistance training on the level of the hepatokines, FGF-21, ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4 in obese postmenopausal women

Hepatokines play an important role in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, and hepatokines dysregulation can be associated with different pathological conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. The present study conducted aimed to examined the effect of 12-week circuit resistance training with different intensities on the level of the insulin resistance related hepatokines, FGF-21, angiopoietin-like proteins 3 (ANGPTL3) and ANGPTL4 in obese postmenopausal women.

Forty-four postmenopausal women with average age of 56.07 ± 3.18 years participated in the present study, which randomly divided into four groups (11 subjects in each group) including control groups, low (LT), moderate (MT) and severe (HT) intensity circuit resistance training groups. The training program conducted for 12 weeks and three sessions per week. Blood samples collected before and after training interventions and the levels of desired variables were measured by ELISA method. The findings were analyzed with Graphpad Prism software and significance considered at the level of P < 0.05.

A significant decrease of FGF-21 levels was observed in the HT compared to control group (P = 0.015), but there were no significant changes in FGF-21 levels in the other groups (P < 0.05). ANGPTL3 levels decreased in LT, MT and HT groups compared to the control group (P < 0.001). In addition, decrease in the levels of ANGPTL3 in the HT group was significant compared to the LT (P < 0.001) and MT (P = 0.002) groups. The reduction of ANGPTL4 levels was significant in the three trained groups compared to the control group (P < 0.001), and also in the HT compared to the LT group (P = 0.025).

High intensity circuit resistance training compared to its low and moderate intensities can have a greater role in modulating insulin resistance by further reducing the levels of insulin resistance related hepatokines.