Fig. 1.
Plasma GDF15 increased following 12 wk of aerobic exercise training, P < 0.01, n = 24 (A). Individual responses in the fasting plasma GDF15 (pg/ml) level before and after exercise training intervention (B). Percentage fat-free mass increased postexercise training (C); whole body percentage fat mass, android fat mass, and abdominal fat mass decreased postexercise training (D–F). The increase in fat-free mass was positively correlated with the delta change in GDF15 postexercise training, rho = 0.48, P < 0.05 (G); the Δfat mass (rho = −0.44, P < 0.05), Δandroid fat (rho = −0.42, P ≤ 0.05), Δabdominal fat were correlated with ΔGDF15 (r = −0.48, P < 0.05) (H–J). FFM, fat-free mass; GDF15, growth differentiation factor 15; Post, after exercise intervention; Pre, before exercise intervention; V̇o2max, maximal oxygen consumption.