The effects of an eight-week aerobic training program on plasma adipokine concentrations in middle-aged men

Obesity is currently a worldwide health epidemic which has incited major interest among researchers to look for the underlying mechanisms that regulate body weight. In fact, adiponectin and leptin concentrations that are called adipokines are altered in obesity with a decreased production of adiponectin and an increased production of leptin. Adiponectin has anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-insulin resistance properties, but increased levels of leptin are observed in patients with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week aerobic training program on the plasma levels of adiponectin and leptin in healthy middle-aged men. Thirty healthy middle-aged men were selected based on their body fat percentage and were assigned to two equal groups. The experimental group took the 8-week training, four days a week on alternate days with an intensity of 60-80% of their heart rate reserve but the control group lived their sedentary life. Blood samples were collected before and after the training program from all subjects and plasma adipokine levels were measured. Plasma adiponectin concentration increased while leptin levels decreased significantly (P<0.001 and P≤0.042 respectively) upon completion of the 8-week program. Moreover, reduction in body fat percentage (P≤0.001) negatively correlated with adiponectin (P≤0.001) and positively with leptin changes (P≤0.008). In healthy middle-aged men, 8-week aerobic training programs could reduce body fat percentage and improve plasma adipokines levels. Therefore, aerobic training can be considered as a major strategy for preventing obesity and its accompanying diseases.