Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC) license

Authors

• Karim Azali Alamdari ¹
• Farhad Gholami ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University

² Assistant Professor, Shahrood University of Technology

Abstract

Aim: Retinol binding protein-4 (RBP-4) as an adipokine secreted from adipose tissue, plays an important role in insulin resistance and metabolic disorders. Despite the benefits of aerobic training on metabolic disorders, the effect of aerobic training on RBP-4 and its relation with metabolic factors in patients with metabolic syndrome is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks aerobic training on serum RBP-4 levels and insulin resistance in women with metabolic syndrome.
 Methods: In a semi-experimental study, 24 women with metabolic syndrome (age: 52.79±4.91 yrs, BMI: 32.77±2.37 Kg/m² and VO_2peak: 40±2.55 L/min)  were randomly assigned into two groups including exercise (n=12) and control (n=12) groups. Aerobic exercise program was performed for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week with an intensity of 50-60% of peak oxygen consumption for 20-40 minutes. Prior to the experimental period and 48h after last training session, body composition measurements were performed and blood samples were taken to be measured for serum levels of RBP-4, lipid profile, glucose and insulin. Insulin resistance index was also assessed. The data were analyzed using statistical tests of Paired and Independent t-test and Pearson's correlation test at significance level of PResults: The results showed that aerobic training significantly decreased serum RBP-4, glucose, insulin resistance index, body weight, body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and metabolic syndrome Z score (P<0.05). Moreover, high density lipoprotein HDL - C levels significantly increased following eight weeks aerobic training (P<0.05). Pearson's correlation test revealed that changes in RBP-4 levels was significantly correlated with changes in body fat percentage, triglycerides, insulin and insulin resistance index (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Overall, the results of this study indicated that aerobic training can reduce the RBP-4 levels and improve insulin resistance and some metabolic risk factors in women with metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance improvement is likely to be resulted from decreased RBP-4 levels following aerobic training.

Keywords

• Aerobic training
• RBP-4
• Insulin resistance
• Women
• metabolic syndrome