Effects of resistance-like exercise training on local sarcopenia decrease and appetite regulation on aged women

Background: Aging is associated with a continuance decline in muscle mass, strength and endocrine changes. Sarcopenia is characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass and strength which lead to physical disability. Ghrelin and its acylated form declined by aging that sarcopenic individuals present lower acylated ghrelin concentration. Ghrelin plays critical role in stimulating growth hormone secretion, regulates energy homeostasis, inhibits the anorectic proinflammatory cytokines production, and increases body mass (1). On the other hand, resistance exercise decrease sarcopenia by increasing the muscle mass and strength (1) also, decrease acylated ghrelin of middle-age obese men (2). Up to now, there is no study about resistance-like exercise training on local sarcopenia and acylated ghrelin on aged women. In the current study we aimed to discover the effects of two kinds of resistance exercise training on local sarcopenia, appetite (acylated ghrelin), anthropometrics, and total caloric of aged women. Methodology: It was quasi-experimental design study. Among eighty criterion included subjects (no acute/chronic heart disease, no musculoskeletal disability, no cancer, no lumbar or heart surgery) 59 subjects were purposefully included. Subjects randomly divided into four groups; resistance exercise (chest press, lat pulldown, triceps, leg press, leg extension) (n=15), control of resistance exercise (n=15), core stabilization exercise (bridge, abdominal crunch, single-leg abdominal press, pelvic tilt, and back extension) (n=9), and control of core stabilization exercise (n=20). Ten-week exercise training protocols performed and sarcopenic changes of lumbar multifidus (by ultrasound), acylated ghrelin concentrations (human ELISA kit), anthropometrics (bioelectrical impedance), and caloric status (Food Frequency Questionnaires) were assessed. Data analysis were done by stata (version 12). Results: According to data analysis, lumbar multifidus cross sectional area of core stabilization group significantly increased (3.43 to 5.41 cm2) (p 0.05). Acylated ghrelin non-significantly declined in resistance exercise group (p 0.05). Anthropometrics characteristics (weight, BMI) were not change in any groups (p 0.05), but fat percent and caloric intake significantly decline in resistance exercise groups (p 0.05). Conclusion: Current study lumbar multifidus changes was alike to previous study (3), and according to conflicted and less data about resistance exercise effects on ghrelin of elderly, our results were the same as previous work (2). In conclusion, resistance exercises are effective strategies to face with age-related physiological changes. Noteworthy, the most effective resistance exercise protocol is the most appropriate and fit protocol to each individual purpose. Reference 1. Wakabayashi H, Sakuma K. Comprehensive approach to sarcopenia treatment. Current clinical pharmacology. 2014 May;9(2):171-80. PubMed PMID: 24219006. Epub 2013/11/14. eng. 2. Guelfi KJ, Donges CE, Duffield R. Beneficial effects of 12 weeks of aerobic compared with resistance exercise training on perceived appetite in previously sedentary overweight and obese men. Metabolism: clinical and experimental. 2013 Feb;62(2):235-43. PubMed PMID: 22959499. Epub 2012/09/11. eng. 3. Klizienė I, Sipavičienė S, Imbrasienė D, Klizas Š, Inokaitis H. Effect of core stability exercise on cross sectional area of lumbar multifidus muscle and physical capacity. Educ Phys Train Sport. 2011;83:9-15.