The acute response of total plasma ghrelin to high intensity circuit resistance exercise, performed in fasted and high carbohydrate meal states in healthy young men

Intensive exercise based on its nature, characterized by an acute state of negative energy balance. However, heavy exercise may actually result in a prolonged negative energy balance for its neuro-endocrine changes. Ghrelin is a peptide secreted by the stomach and plays an important role in energy balance, obesity and food intake behavior. This hormone acts as an appetite stimulator and body gain. The purpose of this study is to determine the acute response of plasma total ghrelin levels to one session circuit resistance exercise in high carbohydrate meal and fasted states in healthy young men. Forty male college students (age=22.10±1.08 years, height= 173.55±5.03 cm, weight= 65.24±7.63 kg and body mass index 21.02±0.33 kg/m2 (Mean±SD)) were randomly assigned to the two experimental and two control groups. Circulating levels of total plasma ghrelin, growth hormone, glucose and insulin of subjects were measured before and immediately after exercise protocol. Results of Two Way ANOVA test showed that one session circuit resistance exercise at %80 of repetition maximum with high carbohydrate meal and fasted status has no significantly effects on total plasma ghrelin, growth hormone and insulin (p>0.05) and glucose showed a significant increase in both fasting and feeding with high carbohydrate meal states (p<0.05). It seems that the reason of increased plasma glucose levels was the increase of liver glycogenolysis that lead to suppressed effect of glucose and no significant increase plasma ghrelin levels; However, the total ghrelin sub-fractions may have changed. Despite the improvement in exercise performance after high carbohydrate diet, it is likely that nochange in plasma Ghrelin level after resistance activity, not hungry or the food intake, after stimulation of the activity and subsequent reserves to compensate for lost of energy.