A single session of low-volume high-intensity interval and moderate-intensity continuous exercise elicits a transient reduction in ghrelin levels, but not in post-exercise energy intake in obese men.

Victor Araújo Ferreira Matos,Ítalo Freire Medeiros,Daniel Costa De Souza,Rodrigo Alberto Vieira Browne,Ana Paula Trussardi Fayh,Eduardo Caldas Costa,Paulo Ricardo Porfírio Do Nascimento,Victor Oliveira Albuquerque Dos Santos

doi:10.20945/2359-3997000000308

Abstract

This study investigated the acute effects of high-intensity interval (HIIE) and moderate-intensity continuous (MICE) exercise on ghrelin levels in obese men. A total of 10 obese men (age 27.6 ± 1.8 years, body mass index 35.4 ± 4.5 kg/m2, body fat 39.9 ± 2.1%) performed two exercise sessions in a randomized order: HIIE (10 × 1 min intervals at 90% of the maximal heart rate [HRmax] interspersed by 1 min of active recovery) and MICE (20 min at 70% of the HRmax). Ghrelin levels were assessed pre-, post- and 1h post-exercise, and energy intake was assessed 1h post-exercise through an ad libitum meal. HIIE and MICE showed a trend to decrease ghrelin levels immediately post-exercise (-14.1 ± 21.6% and -9.6 ± 23.8%, respectively, p = 0.07) and decreased 1h post-exercise (-12.7 ± 31.8% and -13.8 ± 21.7%, respectively, p < 0.05). No changes were observed for post-exercise energy intake (p > 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the change in ghrelin levels and post-exercise energy intake only for HIIE (r = 0.63, p = 0.05). In summary, a single session of HIIE and MICE elicits a reduction on ghrelin levels without changing post-exercise energy intake in obese men.

Highlights

Obesity has increased rapidly in recent decades and became a major public health concern given its association with chronic diseases, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cancer [1]
The main findings of the present study were: i) the moderateintensity continuous exercise (MICE) and high-intensity interval (HIIE) sessions elicited a significant reduction in the ghrelin levels up to 1h post-exercise; ii) there was a positive correlation between the change of ghrelin levels and post-exercise energy intake only for the HIIE session; iii) post-exercise energy intake was not different between the HIIE and MICE sessions
The initial hypothesis that a greater suppression of the appetite in obese men occurs in the HIIE session compared to MICE was not confirmed

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Obesity has increased rapidly in recent decades and became a major public health concern given its association with chronic diseases, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cancer [1]. These responses are mediated by complex interactions between key brain regions involved in energy homeostasis and circulating appetiteregulating hormones resulting in hunger and satiety episodes [8] In this context, ghrelin is considered a key appetite parameter given its concentration is associated with increased hunger and energy intake [7,9]. Previous studies have suggested an interesting aerobic exercise effect promoting a transient reduction in appetite-related parameters, including ghrelin levels in healthy [11,12,13] and overweight individuals [14,15,16] This response seems to be associated with the exercise intensity and its changes in energy substrates (i.e. increased blood lactate and glucose) [9,17,18]. It was hypothesized that the ghrelin levels and post-exercise energy intake following a single HIIE session would be lower than after a MICE session in obese men

Study design and participants

Procedures

RESULTS

DISCUSSION