Influence of endurance training‑induced weight loss on the levels of ghrelin and obestatin of obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Though Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an observed plurimetabolic syndrome associated with central obesity and insulin resistance, the association between obesity and PCOS remains unclear. Additionally, there are fewer data to suggest whether lifestyle change can affect prolong treatment of PCOS through regulating body weight, ghrelin, and obestatin levels. Zehsaz and colleagues published a study in the Journal of Sport Science for Health with the title “Influence of endurance training‑induced weight loss on the levels of ghrelin and obestatin of obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome”. Summary of the findings can be studied below:
Objective:
To study the effects of a 12-week training program on weight loss, acylated ghrelin, serum ghrelin, obestatin levels, and des-acylated ghrelin in obese sedentary women with PCOS
Method:
30 sedentary obese women with PCOS were included in the study from a multidisciplinary PCOS speciality clinic in Tabriz city in 2017. They were evaluated before and after a 12-week training program, which included 45 min per session of aerobic training at an intensity of 60–75% of age-predicted maximum heart rate (300 kcal/day).
Findings:
Investigators report a decrease in body mass index (BMI), body weight, waist circumference, and body fat percentage in a trained group of obese women with PCOS than the control group. While previous studies have observed an increase in plasma ghrelin levels after endurance exercise in obese women without PCOS, this study report stable levels of ghrelin in obese women with PCOS. Obestatin levels were found to be elevated with endurance exercise. Additionally, it is said that stable ghrelin levels and elevated obestatin levels are essential to maintain weight for a long time after weight loss. There is a significant decrease found in the levels of acylated ghrelin (AG) which is associated with suppressing appetite. On the other hand, des-acyl ghrelin (DAG) levels had no impact due to moderate-intensity endurance exercise.
Limitation:
The participant’s appetite was not investigated in the study. Additionally, less sample size was included in the study for both the groups. Authors acknowledge future studies with consistent methods to evaluate the effect of exercise on ghrelin and obestatin levels in obese women with PCOS and the mechanism involved in decreasing AG levels following exercise.
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