Table 2.
Summary of selected clinical trials in which leptin levels were measured as a clinical outcome before and after exercise.
| Number | Subjects | Exercise intensity | Measured parameters | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute and short (≤60 min) exercise protocols without significant effect on leptin levels | ||||
| 163 | Seven young men (age, 27) | 30 min Ex at 25% and 75% of the difference between the lactate threshold (LT) and rest (0.25 LT, 0.75 LT), at LT, and at 25% and 75% of the difference between LT and VO2 peak (1.25 LT, 1.75 LT) | Leptin AUC for all six conditions | 30 min Ex at different intensities does not affect leptin levels during or up to 3.5 hours after exercise |
| 164 | Six healthy untrained men | Three sessions of control, Max Ex, and prolonged Ex at 50% of VO2 max | Serum leptin, insulin, glucose, FFA, and glycerol REE and BF were also assessed | (i) No significant differences were observed in leptin concentrations between the control and exercise session (ii) Control serum leptin was positively correlated to BF and glucose and negatively correlated to REE |
| 83 | 15 healthy postmenopausal women (8 on HRT and 7 on NHRT) | 30 min treadmill at 80% VO2 max | Leptin level before and after exercise session and one month later as (without exercise) control values | No significant differences were observed between groups |
| 165 | Eight young, lean, sedentary men | 41 min of cycle ergometry at 85% of VO2 max and 1-2 weeks later the same protocol but without exercise to be considered as control | Serum leptin, insulin, protein, and cortisol levels plus plasma glucose, EP, and NE concentrations | No significant changes in leptin levels |
| 166 | Ten young lean men (age, 23) | Acute effects of 3 resistance exercise protocols including MS, MH, and SE on serum leptin | Serum leptin, cortisol, glucose, and GH | Typical resistance exercise protocols did not result in serum leptin changes |
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| Longer duration (≥60 min) exercise protocols which resulted in decreased leptin levels | ||||
| 167 | 12 fasted men (age, 30) to work on stationary cycle ergometer and 14 nonfasted marathon runner (age, 41) | Intense exercise in both groups (four half-hour period at 75% VO2 max for cyclists and 101 mile running for runners) | Blood leptin levels before, at the end, 6, 18, and 24 hours after exercise | Negative energy balance of exercise can reduce serum leptin concentrations |
| 168 | 29 male marathon runner compared with 22 age-, sex-, and BMI-matched sedentary controls | Marathon run (42.195 km) with a calculated energy expenditure of over 2800 Cal | Leptin levels one day before and after run | There was a significant reduction in blood leptin levels in runners |
| 169 | 9 trained men (age, 22–33) | (i) A MAX short duration run (ii) 60 min endurance ran at 70% of VO2 max consumption (END) |
Plasma leptin, insulin, and glucose levels before, immediately after, 24, and 48 hours after exercise | (i) Plasma leptin levels did not differ between time points for the MAX run (ii) Leptin was significantly lower 48 h after exercise in END group |
| 170 | Ten young men (age, 21) | Acute heavy resistance protocol (50 total set comprised of the squat, bench press, and lat pull-down) | Plasma leptin levels | Leptin concentration showed a delayed (approximately 9 h) reduction after acute resistance exercise |
| 82 | 45 males participated in one of the three competitive exercise protocols | (i) A half marathon run (21.097 Km, 1400 Kcal) (ii) A ski-alpinism (45 Km, 5000 Kcal) (iii) An ultramarathon race (100 Km, 7000 Kcal) |
(i) Serum leptin (ii) Plasma free fatty acids |
Serum leptin levels decreased significantly in ultramarathon and ski-alpinism but not in half marathon run |
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| Exercise protocols in obese, prediabetic, and/or metabolic syndrome patients | ||||
| 171 | Fifty inactive men (age, 65–78, BMI, 28.7–30) | Low intensity (n = 14) Moderate intensity (n = 12) High intensity (n = 14) Control (n = 10) For 24 weeks |
Exercise energy cost Skinfold sum Body weight VO2 max Resting metabolic rate Plasma leptin and adiponectin |
Leptin was diminished by all treatments |
| 172 | 50 sedentary type II diabetic subjects divided to a diet therapy (n = 23) group or an exercise plus diet therapy group | Exercise protocol consisted of walking and cycle ergometer exercise for 1 h × 5/week with the intensity of 50% of VO2 max | Plasma leptin levels Fasting plasma insulin, glucose, cortisol, and HbA1c Urinary 17-OHCS |
Leptin significantly decreased in exercise group |
| 84 | 30 men and women (17 controls and 13 type II obese diabetics, age 40–55) | Three repetition of maximal weight lifting bout 72 h after their last training bout of 6 weeks of resistance training | Serum leptin levels plus glucose and insulin | Acute exercise decreased leptin level in diabetic group |
| 85 | 34 women offspring of type II diabetic patients and 36 matched female controls | Seven weeks of exercise intervention | Insulin sensitivity index, VO2 max, and plasma leptin level | Plasma leptin levels decreased only in the offspring of diabetic patients |
| 173 | 50 diabetic men divided to exercise training or standard therapy for 2 years | Endurance and muscle strength training 4 times/week. | HbA1c, insulin, leptin, blood lipids, blood pressure,VO2 max, and muscle strength | VO2 max, muscle strength, HbA1c, and leptin improved in exercise group |
AUC: area under curve; BF: body fat; EP: epinephrine; Ex: exercise; FFA: free fatty acids; GH: growth hormone; HRT: hormone replacement therapy; MAX: maximum intensity; MH: muscular hypertrophy; MS: maximum strength; NE: norepinephrine; NHRT: nonhormone replacement therapy; 17-OHCS: 17-hydroxycorticosteroid; REE: resting energy expenditure; SE: strength endurance; VO2 max: maximal oxygen consumption.