Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2025
A Method to Study the Impact of Chemically-induced Ovarian Failure on Exercise Capacity and Cardiac Adaptation in Mice
Published on: April 7, 2014
Alternating Aerobics with Resistance Exercise Improves Bone Density and Circulating Irisin Levels in Postmenopausal
Mingxian Chen1, Yuan Zhang, Xinkai Yu1
1Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, CHINA.
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 (BMD) in postmenopausal women.
Methods:
We recruited 29 postmenopausal women (age: 62.67 ± 3.9 yr) without regular exercise habits to participate in a 24-wk program of alternating aerobic and resistance training exercise. Blood samples, body composition, and BMD 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 dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry ( 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 appendicular skeletal muscle mass/height 2 ( 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.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:40Bone Remodeling
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:28Menopause
01:17Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...