ABSTRACT
The present study aims to consider the effects of age on liver enzyme levels of obese men following 15 weeks of moderate-intensity interval training (MIIT). Ten obese middle-aged persons (aged 55.2 ± 4.31 years; height 171.4 ± 3.59 cm; weight 95.7 ± 14.61 kg; and body mass index [BMI] 32.53 ± 4.59 kg/m2) and 10 obese young adults (age 22.7 ± 1.25 years; height 177.4 ± 3.94 cm; weight 100.7 ± 8.04 kg; and BMI 32 ± 2.39 kg/m2) were enrolled in this study. Interval training was followed by 65 to 75% of VO2max, 1 set, 2 minutes and seven repetitions, 1 minute rest–relief interval with 50% of VO2max. Blood sampling was carried out in order to measure aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). All analyses were conducted by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 16 for windows). A descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation was obtained for all parameters. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and test of normality (Shapiro–Wilk test) were used. Paired sample t-test was used to compare the pretest and posttest data in each group. Comparison between middle-aged and young adults has shown that MIIT causes significant increase of ALT levels in young adults. There is no significant difference between middle-aged and young adults on other variables. Also paired sample t-test shows that ALP was decreased in both groups.
How to cite this article
Rohollah V, Sedigheh K, Yadollah M, Rahmatollah K, Mojtaba M. Effects of Age on Liver Enzyme Levels of Obese Men following Moderate-intensity Interval Training. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2016;6(2):131-133.
Keywords: Liver enzymes, Moderate-intensity interval training, Obese.
INTRODUCTION
The liver is the largest organ of the human body. It is located between the portal and the general circulation, between the organs of the gastrointestinal tract and the heart. The main and important role of the liver is to take up nutrients, in order to store them and also provide nutrients to the other organs. Almost all blood that enters the liver via the portal tract originates from the gastrointestinal tract as well as from the spleen, pancreas, and gallbladder. A second blood supply to the liver comes from the hepatic artery, branching directly from the celiac trunk and descending aorta.1 The most common liver enzymes are alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). These enzymes, the most reliable markers of liver injury, are secreted into the bloodstream when liver cells are injured. Some studies show that ALT and AST are significantly increased after exercise.2 The study has checked the influence of age on liver enzyme levels of obese men following 15 weeks of moderate-intensity interval training (MIIT).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This research has been formulated after accomplishing pretest and posttest assessment in two experimental groups. The participants gave written consent to the study (10 middle-aged and 10 young adults). The study protocol has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University Omidiyeh Branch, Omidiyeh, Islamic Republic of Iran. Interval training was followed by 65 to 75% of VO2max, 1 set, 2 minutes and seven repetitions, 1 minute rest–relief interval with 50% of VO2max. Blood sampling has been done for the evaluation of ALT, AST, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).
Statistical Analysis
All analyses were conducted by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 16 for windows). A descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation was obtained for all parameters. Analysis of covariance, paired sample t-test, and test of normality (Shapiro–Wilk test) were used.
RESULTS
Table 1 shows all information about experimental groups.
Table 1: Personal characteristics of young and middle-aged obese adults
| Variables | Groups | Number | Mean | Standard deviation | |||||
| Age | Young | 10 | 22.7 | 1.25167 | |||||
| Middle aged | 10 | 55.2 | 4.31535 | ||||||
| Height | Young | 10 | 177.4 | 3.94968 | |||||
| Middle aged | 10 | 171.4 | 3.59629 | ||||||
| Weight | Young | 10 | 100.7 | 8.04225 | |||||
| Middle aged | 10 | 95.7 | 14.61392 | ||||||
| BMI | Young | 10 | 32 | 2.39827 | |||||
| Middle aged | 10 | 32.53 | 4.59696 |
Analysis of covariance of liver enzymes in young and middle-aged obese people shows that there is no difference between AST and ALP. However, there was a significant difference between ALT of two groups (Table 2). Also, the results showed that young obese adults have higher ALT compared with middle-aged groups (Table 3).
Table 2: Analysis of covariance of liver enzymes in young and middle-aged obese adults
| Variables | Source | Sum of square | df | Mean of square | F | Sig | |||||||
| AST | Covariance | 1.681 | 1 | 1.681 | 0.068 | 0.797 | |||||||
| Between group | 1.095 | 1 | 1.095 | 0.044 | 0.836 | ||||||||
| Within group | 420.319 | 17 | 24.725 | – | – | ||||||||
| Total | 429.200 | 19 | – | – | – | ||||||||
| ALT | Covariance | 27.717 | 1 | 27.717 | 0.933 | 0.348 | |||||||
| Between group | 1023.697 | 1 | 1023.697 | 34.449 | 0.001 | ||||||||
| Within group | 505.183 | 17 | 29.717 | – | – | ||||||||
| Total | 1828.950 | 19 | – | – | – | ||||||||
| ALP | Covariance | 2187.315 | 1 | 2187.315 | 3.007 | 0.101 | |||||||
| Between group | 586.221 | 1 | 586.221 | 0.806 | 0.382 | ||||||||
| Within group | 12365.985 | 17 | 727.411 | – | – | ||||||||
| Total | 15309.750 | 19 | – | – | – |
Table 3: Paired sample t-test of young and middle-aged obese adults
| Variables | Groups | Mean ± SD of pretest | Mean ± SD of posttest | df | t | Sig | |||||||
| AST | Middle aged | 19.30 ± 4.47 | 24.2 ± 6.69 | 9 | –1.952 | 0.083 | |||||||
| Young | 29.7 ± 6.78 | 25.4 ± 1.42 | 9 | 2.076 | 0.068 | ||||||||
| ALT | Middle aged | 24.50 ± 7.56 | 26 ± 6.30 | 9 | –0.487 | 0.638 | |||||||
| Young | 35.1 ± 7.40 | 42.1 ± 4.40 | 9 | –2.077 | 0.068 | ||||||||
| ALP | Middle aged | 197.70 ± 19.27 | 174.10 ± 36.94 | 9 | 2.580 | 0.030 | |||||||
| Young | 256.60 ± 21.06 | 186.40 ± 15.88 | 9 | 8.358 | 0.001 |
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
The results of the present study show that there is a significant difference between ALT of young and middle-aged obese adults. Also, the results show that MIIT causes more increase in ALT of young adults compared with middle-aged obese adults. However, more studies are needed to conclude that this type of training may be cautiously recommended for young obese adults and also led to liver cells damage in this population. Also, investigations have shown that 10 weeks resistance training with intensity of 50 to 90% of 1Maximal repetition (1MR) can lead to significant decrease in AST and ALT of middle-aged adults of fatty liver patients.3 So, it can be concluded that type of exercise and age are two important variables that should be considered before recommendation of exercise in obese subjects.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Authors would like to appreciate all subjects for their participation in the investigation.
Footnotes
Source of support: This research has been supported from Research Project of Islamic Azad University, Omidiyeh Branch.
Conflict of interest: None
REFERENCES
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