The effect of exercise training on leptin levels in obese
males.
Pasman, W. J., M. S. Westerterp-Plantenga, and W. H. M. Saris.
Maastricht University, Department of Human Biology, P.O.Box 616,
6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands, telephone: +31 - 43 -3881640,
fax: +31 - 43 - 3670976, E-mail: W.Pasman@HB.Unimaas.Nl
APStracts 4:0232E, 1997.
The effect of endurance training on plasma leptin levels was
investigated in 15 male, obese subjects in a weight loss and exercise
program (age: 37.3 5.2 yrs; BW 96.5 13.6 kg; BMI 29.8 3.0 kg.m-2).
After four months of treatment containing a very low energy diet
(VLED) and endurance exercise training (3-4 times weekly; 1 hour
sessions; moderate intensity), two groups were formed. One group
continued the exercise sessions (trained subjects; n=7) and one group
stopped with the exercise program (control; n=8). Measurements of
anthropometry, aerobic power, and fasted blood samples were executed
at fixed time points (0, 2, 4, 10, and 16 months). With partial
regression analysis, keeping changes in insulin and body fat
percentage constant, it was shown that hours of exercise training was
significantly correlated with changes in leptin levels, during the 16
months period (r=0.56; p<0.05). Changes in insulin levels were
significantly related to the changes in leptin levels (r=0.47;
p<0.05) which was less for changes in body fat percentage (r=0.42;
p=0.07). During the VLED, the change in insulin concentration was
affecting leptin- levels significantly (r=0.79), the latter was not
found for changes in body fat percentage. It is concluded that
endurance exercise training decreased plasma leptin levels,
independently of changes in plasma insulin levels and body fat
percentage.
Received 18 March 1997; accepted in final form 9 October 1997.
APS Manuscript Number E121-7.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1997 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 29 October 1997