Exercise increases serum fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) levels

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Exercise Physiology
• Metabolic Research

Background:

• Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) is known to enhance glucose uptake.
• The impact of exercise on serum FGF21 levels in humans remains largely unexplored.
• This study investigates the relationship between exercise and FGF21 in healthy young women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if regular exercise influences serum FGF21 levels.
• To identify correlations between changes in FGF21 and physiological responses to exercise.
• To explore factors associated with FGF21 elevation following an exercise intervention.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study involving 60 sedentary young healthy women.
• Biochemical and anthropometric assessments were conducted before and after a two-week supervised exercise program.
• Serum FGF21 levels, glucose, maximal heart rate (MHR), METs, epinephrine, and free fatty acids (FFAs) were measured.

Main Results:

• Two weeks of daily exercise led to a significant increase in serum FGF21 levels (p<0.0001).
• The increase in FGF21 positively correlated with basal glucose, MHR, METs, plasma epinephrine, and plasma FFAs.
• A regression model identified glucose, MHR, METs, FFAs, and epinephrine as independent factors associated with FGF21 increment.

Conclusions:

• Serum FGF21 levels significantly rise following a two-week exercise intervention in sedentary women.
• The exercise-induced increase in FGF21 is linked to the adrenergic and lipolytic responses to physical activity.