Effect of aerobic exercise training on plasma lipocalin-۲ and insulin resistance among normal and overweight females

Obesity is a risk factor for many diseases such as type ۲ diabetes mellitus (T۲DM) and is positively correlated to pro-inflammatory markers consisting adipokines. Lipocalin-۲ (LCN-۲) is an inflammatory marker closely related to obesity and T۲DM.Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the impact of ۸ weeks of aerobic exercise (AE) training on LCN-۲ plasma levels and insulin resistance in normal and overweight females.for this purpose, ۲۷ healthy normal and overweight women (۲۰-۴۵ year-old) were assigned into two groups: ۱) normal (N) (body mass index ≤ ۲۴.۹ kg/m۲) and ۲) overweight (O) (body mass index ≥ ۲۵ kg/m۲). The aerobic training program was carried out for ۸ weeks, ۳ sessions per week at ۴۰ ۸۰% of maximal reserved heart rate. Duration of each session was ۲۵ minutes in the first week and it increased up to ۴۵ minutes in the ۸th week of exercise.Plasma levels of insulin, glucose, LCN-۲ and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) before and ۴۸h after the training period were assessed.Our results showed that the aerobic training resulted in a significant decrease in body fat percent in both group (p≤۰.۰۵). No significant effects were observed in weight, BMI, insulin, glucose and HOMA-IR after ۸ weeks of AE. In addition, LCN-۲ levels didn’t change significantly in group N, while increase significantly in group O (p= ۰.۰۴).Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that ۸ weeks of aerobic training in overweight women increased plasma lipocalin-۲ levels despite decreasing body fat percent. More studies are needed to understand the mechanisms involved in these changes.

Keywords:

Aerobic training , Insulin resistance , Lipocalin-۲ , Obesity