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Resting leptin responses to acute and chronic resistance training in type 2 diabetic men and women

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the plasma leptin levels 24 h post-exercise in control and type 2 diabetic subjects and to establish if observed changes in leptin concentrations were acute or chronic effects of a resistance training program.

METHODS: Thirty men and women (17 controls and 13 type 2, obese diabetics, age 40–55 y) had resting blood samples drawn at 08:00 h (12 h postprandial) at the beginning of the study (pre-training), 24 h after a three repetition maximal weight lifting bout (acute) and 72 h after their last training bout of 6 weeks of resistance training (chronic). The two groups were not matched with respect to body mass index and the control subjects were not normal weight. Subjects weight-trained three times a week, for 6 weeks, for 1 h, training both the upper and lower body.

RESULTS: Serum leptin concentrations were significantly higher in the type 2 diabetics than in the control group at pre-training (41.4±8.9 vs 11.4±3.0 ng/ml, P<0.05, respectively). Compared to pre-training, the leptin levels decreased significantly (P<0.01) after acute exercise in the diabetics but not in the control subjects (diabetics 30.9±7.1 vs controls 10.6±2.6 ng/ml). Approximately 72 h after 6 weeks of exercise training, the leptin concentrations were no longer lower than the pre-training values in either group (36.9±8.8 vs 11.9±8.8 ng/ml, respectively, P=NS). When leptin concentrations were log transformed and adjusted for fat mass there were still significant changes in leptin levels over time and between the control and diabetic group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The type 2 diabetics showed a significant 30% reduction in resting leptin levels 24 h after a single bout of resistance exercise. This was an acute response to resistance exercise and not a chronic training effect (no difference between pre-training and chronic). The decreased resting leptin concentrations 24 h post-acute exercise may be due to reduced glucose availability to the adipose tissue, particularly in the diabetic subjects. There is no chronic effect of resistance exercise on leptin concentrations.

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Kanaley, J., Fenicchia, L., Miller, C. et al. Resting leptin responses to acute and chronic resistance training in type 2 diabetic men and women. Int J Obes 25, 1474–1480 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801797

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