UNACYLATED GHRELIN LEVELS INCREASE AFTER AEROBIC EXERCISE PROGRAM IN OBESE WOMEN

MIRZAEI, B.; IRANDOUST, K.; RAHMANI-NIA, F.; MOHEBBI, H.; HASSAN-NIA, S. Unacylated Ghrelin levels increase after aerobic exercise program in obese women. Brazilian Journal Biomotricity, v. 3, n. 1, p. 11-20, 2009. We assessed acylated (AG) and unacylated ghrelin (UAG) levels in response to exercise induced weight loss without decreased caloric intake. Twenty-three sedentary, obese women with age 43± 6.1(yr) and BMI 30.5± 1.6(kg/m2) were randomly assigned in aerobic exercise and control groups. Subjects performed 30 min running with 65-75% maximal heart rate reserve, 4 d/wk for 8 weeks. Before and after 8 weeks intervention, AG and UAG, insulin, weight and body composition, caloric intake and Vo2max was measured for all subjects. In the exercise group, UAG levels significantly increased after intervention (P < 0.001), while body mass decreased no significantly (1.2 ± 1.9 kg, P = 0.21). There were no significant changes in AG levels following the intervention in either groups (P = 0.053). In summary, fasting UAG concentration appear to be increased by aerobic exercise accompanied with reduction of weight higher than exercise training independent of weight loss.