Circulating myokines IL‐6, IL‐15 and FGF21 response to training is altered by exercise type but not by menopause in women with obesity

Abstract

ABSTRACT To examine the effects of a time‐matched endurance vs. concurrent training on circulating IL‐6, IL‐13, IL‐15, IL‐15Ra, FGF21 levels in postmenopausal women with obesity, and to determine these myokines response to endurance training pre‐ and postmenopause. Thirty‐five sedentary postmenopausal women with obesity were randomly divided into endurance training (EN1, N = 10), concurrent training (CON, N = 13) or no training group (CT, N = 12). Additionally, twelve sedentary premenopausal women with obesity were added to an endurance training group (EN2, N = 12). Participants took part in a 12‐week supervised intervention, performing 3 sessions/week of 60 min/session. Before and after the interventions, body composition and fitness were assessed, and blood samples obtained to measure serum myokines levels. Total fat mass decreased in all exercised groups (CON,−5.2%; EN1,−5.3%; EN2,−5.6%). In postmenopausal women, serum IL‐6, IL‐15 and IL‐15Ra decreased after training ( P <0.01), finding a pronounced reduction in IL‐6 (−42% vs. −16%) and IL‐15 (−50% vs. −31%) when comparing EN1 to CON ( P <0.05). Serum FGF21 was only reduced in the EN1 (−27%; P =0.012). While EN1 and EN2 comparison, reported differences for IL‐15Rα concentration (−28% vs. −40%; P =0.023). Finally, in EN2, the delta change of fat mass and IL‐6, IL‐15 and IL‐15Rα were associated ( r = 0.605; r = 0.546; r = 0.515; P <0.05). IL‐13 showed undetected concentrations. Circulating IL‐6, IL‐15 and FGF21 response to training is altered by exercise type but not by menopause in women with obesity. Endurance training promotes a higher reduction of these myokines, potentially activating their intricate immune and fat mass regulation roles in postmenopausal women with obesity.

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