Relationships between changes of serum adiponectin levels with testosterone, cortisol, and testosterone to cortisol ratio following exercise training

Introduction & Adiponectin is an adipokine secreted by adipose tissue that its circulating concentrations reduce with obesity، cardiovascular diseases، and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to survey relationships between changes of serum adiponectin levels with testosterone، cortisol، and testosterone to cortisol ratio following exercise training. In a semi-experimental study، twenty healthy men were randomly placed at two groups: exercise training and control. General Characteristics of subjects and serum levels of adiponectin، testosterone، cortisol and testosterone to cortisol ratio were assessed before and after training. Exercise training protocol included twelve weeks pedaling on cycle ergometer (3 sessions per week، intensity 60-70% of reserved heart rate، duration of each session 20-40 min). Data analyzed by SPSS16 software. Statistical significance was accepted at P<0. 05. Exercise training increased serum adiponectin concentration (p=0. 021)، while decreased serum testosterone concentration (p=0. 013) and testosterone to cortisol ratio (p=0. 047)، and serum levels of cortisol did not find significant change (p=087). Also، changes of serum adiponectin concentration in exercise training group were positively correlated to body fat percent changes (p=0. 003)، but had no significant correlations to changes of testosterone (p=0. 73) and cortisol concentrations (p=0. 098)، and to testosterone to cortisol ratio (p=0. 125). Changes of serum adiponectin levels following exercise training have no relations to changes of testosterone or testosterone to cortisol ratio، but it appears that exercise training may cause to increase circulating levels of adiponectin via decreasing body fat percent.