Effect of Aerobic Exercise Training on Circulating Fibroblast Growth
Factor-21 Response to Glucose Challenge in Overweight and Obese Men: A Pilot
Study
Masahiro Matsui
1
Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba,
Ibaraki, Japan
2
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
,
Keisei Kosaki
3
Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki,
Japan
,
Kanae Myoenzono
1
Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba,
Ibaraki, Japan
4
Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
,
Toru Yoshikawa
5
Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Ryutsu Keizai University,
Ibaraki, Japan
,
Jieyon Park
3
Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki,
Japan
,
Makoto Kuro-o
6
Division of Anti-aging Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi
Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
,
Seiji Maeda
3
Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki,
Japan
7
Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama,
Japan
› Author AffiliationsFinancial disclosure
This work was supported in part by the Grant-in-Aid for Research
Fellowships of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science for
Young Scientists (20J20892).
Clinical Trial Registry
This study was a secondary analysis of a study registered with the
university hospital medical information network (UMIN)
(UMIN000027711), and all participants gave their written informed
consent. Registered 9 June 2017, https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgiopen-
bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno = R000031744.
Background and study purpose Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) is a
liver-derived hormone that lowers blood glucose. Although aerobic exercise
training also lowers blood glucose, its effect on circulating FGF21levels
remains obscure. This study aimed to examine the effect of aerobic exercise
training on serum FGF21 levels in overweight and obese men.
Methods A total of 14 overweight/obese men were included in the
analyses. Participants attended supervised aerobic exercise training for 12
weeks (three times per week) and completed the standard oral glucose tolerance
test pre- and post-exercise training. Plasma glucose, serum insulin, and serum
FGF21 levels were measured at fasting and 60 and 120 min after glucose
loading.
Results The exercise training reduced plasma glucose and serum FGF21
levels during glucose loading (p<0.05). The change in the area
under the curve of plasma glucose was positively correlated with that in the
area under the curve of serum FGF21 (rs=0.569,
p=0.034).
Conclusion Lowering postprandial circulating FGF21 levels may be
associated with the improved glucose tolerance induced by habitual aerobic
exercise in overweight and obese men.
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