The Effect of 12-weeks Selected Physical Exercise Alone or Combined with Omega-3 Supplement on Ghrelin and Leptin Levels in Young Non-Athlete Women

Subject Areas : Journal of Physical Activity and Hormones

Eskandar Rahimi ¹ , Somayeh Saffari ² , Sarah Hojjati ³ , Salman Vojdani ⁴ , Mehdi Noura ⁵

1 - 1Associate professor in exercise physiology, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Zand Institute of Higher Education, Shiraz, Iran
2 - MS in exercise physiology, Department of Exercise Physiology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran
3 - Assistant professor in exercise physiology, Department of Exercise Physiology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
4 - Assistant professor in pain management, Anesthesiology and Pain Department, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
5 - Assistant professor in exercise physiology, Department of Exercise Physiology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

Received: 2021-11-30 Accepted : 2021-11-30 Published : 2020-09-01

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

Abstract :

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-3 supplement on leptin and ghrelin secretion in healthy young women.Material & Methods: In this experimental study, sixty non-athlete women (23.38±2.45) were randomly divided into control, exercise, supplement, and exercise-supplement groups. The exercise program consisted of 90-minutes basketball training (with 50-55% maximum heart rate (HRmax) increased gradually to 65-75% HRmax in two last weeks) for 12 weeks (3 days/week). The supplement was a daily intake of an omega 3 soft gel containing 1000 mg Omega 3. 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≤0.05 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<0.05). Leptin hormone was reduced while ghrelin hormone increased significantly in supplement, exercise, and exercise + supplement groups (p<0.05) 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=0.05).Conclusion: Our results suggested that physical activity or omega 3 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.