Effects of Exercise Training and Weight Loss on Plasma Fetuin-A Levels and Insulin Sensitivity in Overweight Older Men

J Diabetes Res. 2017:2017:1492581. doi: 10.1155/2017/1492581. Epub 2017 Jul 9.

Abstract

Aerobic exercise training and weight loss (AEX+WL) improves insulin sensitivity in overweight adults; however, the underlying pathways are incompletely understood. Fetuin-A, a hepatokine that inhibits insulin signaling, may be involved in the salutary effects of AEX+WL. Therefore, we examined the effects of 6-month AEX+WL on plasma fetuin-A levels (36-48 hours after the last bout of exercise), aerobic capacity (VO2max), body composition, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity (M) in 16 sedentary, overweight-obese older men (age = 60 ± 2 years, BMI = 31 ± 1 kg/m2) with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. At baseline, fetuin-A levels correlated directly with adiposity and had a borderline inverse correlation with M. After AEX+WL, body weight decreased by ~10 kg, while both VO2max and M increased by 16% (P < 0.005 for all). Contrary to our hypothesis, plasma fetuin-A levels increased after AEX+WL (1.16 ± 0.10 g/L versus 1.70 ± 0.19 g/L, P = 0.006). This increase was unrelated to changes in body composition or glucose metabolism, but directly correlated with changes in VO2max (r = 0.57, P < 0.05). Thus, in overweight-to-obese older men, AEX+WL appears to increase plasma fetuin-A levels. Although not associated with improvements in insulin sensitivity, this increase in fetuin-A was related to improvements in aerobic capacity and could be representative of the cardioprotective effects of AEX+WL in older men.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Body Composition
  • Diet, Healthy*
  • Exercise Therapy*
  • Exercise Tolerance
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Overweight / blood
  • Overweight / diagnosis
  • Overweight / physiopathology
  • Overweight / therapy*
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Up-Regulation
  • Weight Loss*
  • alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / metabolism*

Substances

  • AHSG protein, human
  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Insulin
  • alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein