The Effect of 12-weeks Selected Physical Exercise Alone or Combined with Omega-3 Supplement on Ghrelin and Leptin Levels in Young Non-Athlete Women

Ghrelin and leptin hormones are engaged in energy regulation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of physical exercise alone or combined with an omega-3 supplement on leptin and ghrelin secretion in healthy young women.

  In this experimental study, sixty non-athlete women (23.38±2.45) were randomly divided into control, exercise, supplement, and exercise-supplement groups. The exercise program consisted of 90-minutes basketball training (with 50-55% maximum heart rate (HRmax) increased gradually to 65-75% HRmax in two last weeks) for 12 weeks (3 days/week). The supplement was a daily intake of an omega 3 soft gel containing 1000 mg Omega 3. A blood sample obtained before and after the interventions assess serum levels of Ghrelin and Leptin hormones by ELISA. The one-way ANOVA and dependent T-test were used to analyze the data. P≤0.05 is considered statically significant.

The serum level of leptin and ghrelin hormones significantly reduced and increased, respectively, in post- compared to the pre-experimental period in supplement, exercise, and exercise + supplement groups (p<0.05). Leptin hormone was reduced while ghrelin hormone increased significantly in supplement, exercise, and exercise + supplement groups (p<0.05) compared to the control group in the post-experimental period. There was also a remarkable difference between the supplement group and the exercise +supplement group (p=0.05).

Our results suggested that physical activity or omega 3 consumption alone leads to an increase in serum ghrelin hormone and a decrease in serum leptin hormone in young non-athlete women. It seems that a combination of both has synergic effects.