Purpose: Irisin plays an important role in bone-muscle crosstalk. The aim of this study was to elucidate the association of long-term exercise induced irisin response with body composition and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.
Methods: We recruited 29 postmenopausal women (age: 62.67 ± 3.9 years) without regular exercise habits to participate in a 24-week program of alternating aerobic and resistance training exercise. Blood samples, body composition and bone mineral density were measured before and after exercise intervention.
Results: Upper and lower limb bone density (P = 0.004, P = 0.039), calf circumference (P = 0.001), circulating levels of irisin (P = 0.003) and osteocalcin (P < 0.001) increased by exercise. Whereas, waist circumference (P = 0.000), blood osteoprotegerin (OPG) (P = 0.041), receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) (P < 0.001), RANKL/OPG ratio (P < 0.001) and estradiol levels (P = 0.003) decreased by training, respectively. According to the observed changes in the measured variables, the irisin circulating levels were significantly and separately related to upper limb BMD (r = 0.462, P = 0.006), lower limb BMD (r = 0.566, P = 0.001), total BMD (r = 0.490, P = 0.008) and T score of DAX (r = 0.489, P = 0.010). The increase in serum irisin levels was found to be positively and separately related to upper limb BMD (r = 0.414, P = 0.026), total BMD (r = 0.453, P = 0.014), calf circumference (r = 0.400, P = 0.031), and ASM/height2 (r = 0.309, P = 0.031) improvements.
Conclusions: Long-term alternating exercise training improves bone density, body composition and circulating irisin levels in postmenopausal women, and irisin would mediate bone-muscle crosstalk to exert positive effect of exercise on bone health in postmenopausal women.
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