Effects of Acute High Intensity Interval Exercise on Irisin and Myostatin Responses in Elite Kickboxers

Abstract

Irisin and myostatin are recently identified myokines, suggested to mediate beneficial effects of exercise. However, in humans the regulation of irisin and myostatin by exercise especially acute high intensity interval exercise is not completely understood. PURPOSE: To determine irisin and myostatin responses to acute high intensity interval exercise in elite kickboxers and sedentary controls. METHODS: Ten male elite kickboxers and ten gender- and age-matched healthy sedentary controls participated in this study. Participants performed 4 X 30-s bursts of all-out maximal intensity cycling interspersed 4 min of rest. Blood samples were obtained immediately before and after exercise, and after 3 and 6 h of recovery. Plasma irisin and myostatin levels were analyzed by ELISA method in these samples. RESULTS: The resting irisin levels were higher in the kickboxers than sedentary controls (2.26 ± 0.60 vs 1.64 ± 0.32 μg mL-1, P < 0.05). Immediately after the exercise irisin levels were decreased in both kickboxers and sedentary controls (1.43 ± 0.50 vs 1.38 ± 0.26 μg mL-1, P < 0.05). Irisin levels were returned to the baseline levels 3 and 6 h of the recovery (1.88 ± 0.59 vs 1.43 ± 0.26 and 1.88 ± 0.75 vs 1.43 ± 0.28 μg mL-1, P < 0.05). Myostatin levels were not different between the groups at rest (2652.31 ± 960. 87 vs 2501.54 ± 678.32 pg mL-1, P > 0.05). It was increased in both groups immediately after the exercise (2914.46 ± 1011.62 vs 2939.08 ± 839.18 pg mL-1, P < 0.05) and returned to the baseline levels in the kickboxers (2608.92 ± 890.59 pg mL-1, P < 0.05) but not sedentary (2849.54 ± 1028.64 pg mL-1, P > 0.05) 3 h of the recovery. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that acute high intensity interval exercise affects irisin and myostatin levels in both kickboxers and sedentary.