Background & Aims: Obesity significantly increases the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus type 2, fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease (hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke), diseases of the central nervous system (dementia), obstructive sleep apnea Increases sleep and various types of cancer. It’s reported that pathological effects of overweight and obesity exerted partly by adipokines, which are adipose tissue secreted bioactive proteins. Among the different known adipokines, the Wnt-induced messaging pathway proteins (WISPs) family and among them, WISP-1 and WISP-2 have attracted a lot of attention and in particular, they affect glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. WISP-1 has been reported to play an important role in various cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and adhesion. In addition to WISP-1, which is primarily expressed in visceral adipose tissue rather than subcutaneous adipose tissue, WISP-2 is another adipokine that is more commonly expressed in subcutaneous adipose tissue. WISP-2 has also been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity and related diseases. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) is another important adipokine, which mainly expressed and secreted by adipose tissue and in confirmation of the association between BMP-4 and obesity, it has been reported that BMP-4 levels increase significantly in people with obesity and metabolic syndrome and its upregulation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity and its metabolic disorders. Despite the WISP-1, 2 and BMP-4 importance, the effect of different exercise training on the levels of these adipokines is remarkably unknown. Therefore, the present study conducted aimed to investigate the effect of a 12-week circuit resistance training with different intensity (40, 60, and 80 percent 1RM) on different adipokines levels (WISP-1, WISP-2, BMP4) in obese postmenopausal women.
Methods: The present study subjects consist of 44 postmenopausal obese women age ranging 48-65 years old (average age of 56.07±3.18 years old). The subjects were then matched based on weight, height and BMI and divided into four equal groups including: 1) control (C) (11 person), 2) circuit resistance training with 40 (RT40) (11 person), 3) 60 (RT60) (11 person) and 4) 80 (RT80) (11 person) percent of 1RM. Because the present subjects were obese menopausal women and were examined in a 12-week research period, so the present study is semi-experimental. After checkup by a gynecologist and confirming the menopause, subjects were qualified to enter in present study. Menopause was confirmed by menopausal levels of estradiol (<120 pmol/l) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH> 30 IU / L). Three training groups completed their considered exercise training protocol, but the control group was asked to continue daily routine lives and don’t take part in regular training. The circuit resistance training protocol consisted of eight movements (squat, biceps curl, chest press, knee extension, knee curl, shoulder press with barbell, leg press, underhand cable pulldowns) for upper and lower limb, which conducted as a circuit at different intensities (25, 32). The training group consist of 1) RT80: Three sets with 10 repetitions at 80% 1RM, 2) RT60: Three sets with 13 repetitions at 60% 1RM, 3) RT40) Three sets with 20 repetitions at 40% 1RM. The between sets rest considered two minutes and was inactive. The first fasting blood sample was taken 72 hours before and the second blood sample was taken 72 hours after a 12-week intervention from the subject’s forearm vein. Blood samples were transferred to special test tubes for serum and plasma (tubes containing sodium citrate) preparation, and then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes. The obtained serum and plasma samples were stored at -70 °C. Then, the circulating variables were measured using kits and special laboratory methods. Plasma levels of WISP-1, WISP-2 and BMP4 were measured by ELISA method, and data were analyzed by means of graph pad prism statistical software.
Results: The present study findings indicated that plasma levels of WISP-1 in the RT60 (p=0.004) and RT80 (p<0.001) groups compared to control group, also in RT80 group compared with the RT40 (p=0.001) group significantly decreased. There was no significant difference between groups were observed for WISP-2 level (p=0.16), although a significant decrease in WISP-2 levels was observed in RT80 group (p=0.031). In addition, between groups analysis indicated a non-significant difference for BMP-4 levels (p=0.055). However, intragroup analysis indicated that plasma levels of BMP-4 in RT60 (p=0.009) and RT80 (p=0.006) groups significantly decreased.
Conclusion: It could be concluded that in comparison with the low and moderate intensity circuit resistance training, the high intensity circuit resistance training plays significant role in modulating the inflammation and decreasing the levels of inflammatory adipokines in obese postmenopausal women.