Eskandar Rahimi - ۱Associate professor in exercise physiology, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Zand Institute of Higher Education, Shiraz, Iran
Somayeh Saffari - MS in exercise physiology, Department of Exercise Physiology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran
Sarah Hojjati - Assistant professor in exercise physiology, Department of Exercise Physiology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
Salman Vojdani - Assistant professor in pain management, Anesthesiology and Pain Department, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
Mehdi Noura - Assistant professor in exercise physiology, Department of Exercise Physiology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

Introduction: Ghrelin and leptin hormones are engaged in energy regulation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of physical exercise alone or combined with an omega-۳ supplement on leptin and ghrelin secretion in healthy young women.Material & Methods:  In this experimental study, sixty non-athlete women (۲۳.۳۸±۲.۴۵) were randomly divided into control, exercise, supplement, and exercise-supplement groups. The exercise program consisted of ۹۰-minutes basketball training (with ۵۰-۵۵% maximum heart rate (HRmax) increased gradually to ۶۵-۷۵% HRmax in two last weeks) for ۱۲ weeks (۳ days/week). The supplement was a daily intake of an omega ۳ soft gel containing ۱۰۰۰ mg Omega ۳. A blood sample obtained before and after the interventions assess serum levels of Ghrelin and Leptin hormones by ELISA. The one-way ANOVA and dependent T-test were used to analyze the data. P≤۰.۰۵ is considered statically significant.Results: The serum level of leptin and ghrelin hormones significantly reduced and increased, respectively, in post- compared to the pre-experimental period in supplement, exercise, and exercise + supplement groups (p<۰.۰۵). Leptin hormone was reduced while ghrelin hormone increased significantly in supplement, exercise, and exercise + supplement groups (p<۰.۰۵) compared to the control group in the post-experimental period. There was also a remarkable difference between the supplement group and the exercise +supplement group (p=۰.۰۵).Conclusion: Our results suggested that physical activity or omega ۳ consumption alone leads to an increase in serum ghrelin hormone and a decrease in serum leptin hormone in young non-athlete women. It seems that a combination of both has synergic effects.

Leptin, Ghrelin, non-athlete women, metabolic system, body weight