High- vs. moderate-intensity exercise reduces ghrelin levels regardless of sex
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Key takeaways:
- Men and women had lower deacylated ghrelin levels in high-intensity vs. moderate-intensity or no exercise periods.
- Participants had higher hunger scores in moderate-intensity exercise vs. no exercise periods.
Regardless of sex, high- vs. moderate-intensive exercise may better reduce ghrelin levels, but its effect on hunger perceptions may differ between men and women, according to results published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
“Understanding how to tailor an exercise program to an individual’s personal goals is important for precision medicine,” Kara C. Anderson, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, told Healio. “The results of this study may be particularly relevant for those in a weight-loss program.”
Anderson and colleagues recruited eight men (mean age, 43.1 years) and six women (mean age, 32.2 years) aged 18 to 55 years with a BMI of 18.5 kg/m2 to 24.9 kg/m2. All participants were untrained, nonsmoking and weight stable and completed a maximal graded cycle ergometer lactate threshold test. Researchers assessed the impact of exercise intensity and sex on ghrelin levels and hunger during three randomized testing periods: no exercise, moderate-intensity exercise and high-intensity exercise. Hunger perception was evaluated through visual analog scales.
At baseline, women had higher total ghrelin levels (P = .03) and deacylated ghrelin levels (P = .01) vs. men. Both men and women demonstrated reduced deacylated ghrelin levels during high-intensity exercise periods compared with periods of moderate-intensity (change from baseline, –17.7 pg/mL vs. 0.56 pg/mL; P < .0001) or no exercise (change from baseline, –17.7 pg/mL vs. –8.46 pg/mL; P = .002). Deacylated ghrelin levels were also higher during the moderate-intensity exercise vs. no exercise periods (P = .001). However, only women had significantly reduced acylated ghrelin levels during high-intensity exercise periods compared with moderate-intensity exercise (change from baseline, –49.7 pg/mL vs. 3.12 pg/mL; P < .0001) or no exercise periods (–49.7 pg/mL vs. –22.01 pg/mL; P < .0001).
Participants had higher hunger scores during the moderate-intensity exercise period compared with the no exercise period (P < .01). Researchers observed no differences between hunger scores during high-intensity exercise and no exercise or moderate-intensity exercise periods. Men had higher hunger scores during moderate- vs. high-intensity exercise periods (P = .05). Women had higher hunger scores during moderate-intensity exercise vs. no exercise periods (P = .05).
“We need to understand if all populations — such as individuals with obesity and/or diabetes — will experience the same responses and whether these results will carry over to a chronic training program,” Anderson said.
For more information:
Kara C. Anderson, PhD, can be reached at ka2zwg@virginia.edu.
Reference:
- Study finds intense exercise may suppress appetite in healthy humans. www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2024/study-finds-intense-exercise-may-suppress-appetite-in-healthy-humans. Published Oct. 24, 2024. Accessed Oct. 28, 2024.
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