Leptin and adiponectin responses in overweight inactive elderly following resistance training and detraining are...

Adiponectin and leptin are closely related to weight control and energy balance, whereas exercise affects elderly metabolic regulation and functional capacity.

The objective of this study was to investigate leptin and adiponectin responses in elderly males after exercise training and detraining.

The study design was a 1-yr randomized controlled trial.

The study was performed at the Laboratory of Physical Education and Sport Science Department.

Fifty inactive men [age, 65-78 yr; body mass index (BMI), 28.7-30.2 kg/m2] were recruited from a volunteer database by word of mouth and fliers sent to medical practitioners, physiotherapists, and nursing homes in the local community.

Participants were randomly assigned to a control (n = 10), low-intensity (n = 14), moderate-intensity (n = 12), or high-intensity training (HI; n = 14) group. Resistance training (6 months, 3 d/wk, 10 exercises/three sets) was followed by 6 months of detraining.

Strength, exercise energy cost, skinfold sum, body weight, maximal oxygen consumption, resting metabolic rate (RMR), and plasma leptin and adiponectin were determined at baseline and after training and detraining.

Strength, maximal oxygen consumption, RMR, and exercise energy cost increased (P < 0.05) after training in an intensity-dependent manner. Skinfold sum and BMI were reduced by resistance training (P < 0.05), with HI being more effective (P < 0.05) than moderate-intensity/low-intensity training. Leptin was diminished (P < 0.05) by all treatments, whereas adiponectin increased (P < 0.05) only in HI. Detraining maintained training-induced changes only in HI. The percent leptin decrease was associated (P < 0.05) with the percent BMI decrease and the percent RMR increase, whereas the percent adiponectin increase was associated (P < 0.05) with the percent BMI decrease.

Resistance training and detraining may alter leptin and adiponectin responses in an intensity-dependent manner. Leptin and adiponectin changes were strongly associated with RMR and anthropometric changes.