gms | German Medical Science

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the acute effects of resistance, aerobic and concurrent aerobic and resistance exercise on serum visfatin and insulin in healthy male subjects.

Material/Methods: Nine healthy male students (age, 24.2±3.6 yr; body mass index, 21.8±2.8 kg/m2) undertook three trials: 1) RE included three sets of 15 repetitions at 60% of one repetition maximum (1RM) for 7 exercises, 2) AE included 50 min exercise at an intensity corresponding to 60% of HRmax on cycle ergometer, 3) CE encompassed two sets of 15 repetitions at 60% of 1RM for 7 exercises and 22 min aerobic exercise at 60% of HRmax on separate days in a randomized balanced design. Blood samples were collected before, immediately and 30 min after exercise. Participants maintained similar meal patterns 48 h prior to the exercise trials, and they were instructed not to exercise among exercise trials. The repeated measures ANOVA (3×3) (trial × time) was used to compare the visfatin and insulin levels in response to three exercise protocols and recovery.

Results: Serum visfatin and insulin levels were reduced similarly after all trials (P<0.05) (Figure 1 [Fig. 1], Figure 2 [Fig. 2]).

Conclusion: Ghanbari-Niaki et al. [1] reported that high-intensity sprint exercise resulted in increased plasma visfatin levels, which were accompanied by increase in insulin and glucose concentrations. Frydelund-Larsen et al. found no effect of 3 h of aerobic exercise [60% VO2max] on plasma visfatin concentrations in healthy young men. In another study, Jürimäe et al. [2] reported a significant decrease (-10.0%) in plasma visfatin in competitive male rowers during recovery from a prolonged 2-hour moderate-intensity training session. Our results are inconsistent to Frydelund-Larsen et al., [3] but are agreement with Jürimäe et al. [2] findings. In summary, this is the first report of a significant decrease in serum visfatin concentrations as a result of acute resistance and concurrent aerobic and resistance exercise in healthy young men. Moreover, acute visfatin and insulin response may not be related to the types of exercise done and it should be noted that lower visfatin concentrations could be seen after moderate-exercise.