Effect of Eight Weeks of Endurance Training on Amino Acid Tryptophan Serum Levels and Body Mass of Overweight Women

Obesity and overweight, one of which symptoms is chronic inflammation, is associated with changes in tryptophan metabolism, culminating in numerous diseases. Sport training is among the ways to control obesity and overweight. This study was conducted to determine the effect of eight weeks of endurance training on amino acid tryptophan serum levels and body mass of overweight women.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 24 overweight women in two groups of 12 people, including the control and experimental groups. The mean age and standard deviation of the control and experimental groups were 41.16±3.45 and 41.08±2.93 years, respectively. The body mass was measured using the anthropometric device, and blood samples were taken in the pre-test and post-test in a 12-hour fasting condition. The subjects of the experimental group underwent endurance training 3 sessions a week for 8 weeks with an intensity of 60% to 75% of the maximal heart rate reserve. Serum tryptophan level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

Eight weeks of endurance training led to enhancing serum tryptophan levels, reducing fat mass, and reducing body mass index (BMI) (P<0.05), and also resulted in a statistically insignificant increase in fat-free mass in overweight women.

Eight weeks of endurance training could be effective in improving the physiological status and body composition of overweight women.