During the last decade, studies provided evidence on the indirect or direct participation of leptin in human reproductive functions. Leptin plays a role in puberty, gonadal function, early embryogenesis and fat metabolism during pregnancy [5][6][7]. Mean circulating leptin levels are higher in women compared to men [5][6][7]. At the same time, circulating leptin levels vary during the physiological spontaneous menstrual cycle presenting with lower values during the follicular and higher values during the luteal phase [8][9][10][11][12][13]. This fact supports the notion that leptin plays an important role in female reproductive functions and it fuels questions whether leptin levels are associated with gonadotropin or ovarian steroid levels. These questions still remain open.The participation of leptin in human female reproductive functions raises the question whether other adipokines are related to these functions, too. The present study was designed to investigate the serum levels of Byron AsiMAkopouLos*, AthAnAsios MiLousis*, theodorA GiokA**, GeorGiA kABouRoMiTi**, GeorGe GiAnissLis*, Androniki TRoussA*, MArA siMopouLou*, siMoni kATeRGARi*, GreGory TRipsiAnis*, nikos nikoLeTTos*** Abstract. This study investigated the serum levels of resistin, adiponectin and leptin during the physiological menstrual cycle. sixteen women (age: 19-30 years; body mass index: 19.46-24.9) with regular menstrual cycles participated. Fasting blood samples were collected on alternate days throughout a full menstrual cycle. Mean resistin concentrations were slightly higher during the luteal phase (5.30±0.23 ng/ml) compared to the follicular (4.68±0.07 ng/ml) and midcycle (4.86±0.09 ng/ml) phases (p=0.032). Mean leptin concentrations during the follicular phase (18.14±0.28 ng/ml) were significantly lower compared to the midcycle (21.79±0.29 ng/ml, p=0.006) and luteal phases (23.75±0.64 ng/ml, p<0.001). The variation of adiponectin concentrations throughout the menstrual cycle was not significant. According to the results, circulating resistin, likewise leptin concentrations vary significantly during the physiological menstrual cycle presenting with higher values during the luteal phase. This pattern, although its physiological importance is not clear, suggests that resistin, likewise to leptin, may have a role in the regulation of cyclic female reproductive functions. The stable adiponectin concentrations throughout the menstrual cycle indicate that this adipokine probably does not play a considerable role in female reproductive functions.

Continuous high glycemic load and inactivity challenge glucose homeostasis and fat oxidation. Hyperglycemia and high intramuscular glucose levels mediate insulin resistance, a precursor state of type 2 diabetes. The aim was to investigate whether a carbohydrate (CHO)-reduced diet combined with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) enhances the beneficial effects of the diet alone on insulin sensitivity and fat oxidation in obese individuals. Nineteen obese subjects underwent 14 days of CHO-reduced and energy-restricted diet. Ten of them combined the diet with HIIT (4 min bouts at 90% VO(2peak) up to 10 times, 3 times a week). Oral glucose insulin sensitivity (OGIS) increased significantly in both groups; [diet-exercise (DE) group: pre 377 ± 70, post 396 ± 68 mL min(-1) m(-2); diet (D) group: pre 365 ± 91, post 404 ± 87 mL min(-1) m(-2); P < 0.001]. Fasting respiratory exchange ratio (RER) decreased significantly in both groups (DE group: pre 0.91 ± 0.06, post 0.88 ± 0.06; D group: pre 0.92 ± 0.07, post 0.86 ± 0.07; P = 0.002). VO(2peak) increased significantly in the DE group (pre 27 ± 5, post 32 ± 6 mL kg(-1) min(-1); P < 0.001), but not in the D group (pre 26 ± 9, post 26 ± 8 mL kg(-1) min(-1)). Lean mass and resistin were preserved only in the DE group (P < 0.05). Fourteen days of CHO-reduced diet improved OGIS and fat oxidation (RER) in obese subjects. The energy-balanced HIIT did not further enhance these parameters, but increased aerobic capacity (VO(2peak)) and preserved lean mass and resistin.

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The level of CCS coverage among the examined sample of Greek adults was discouraging. Surveys among other European countries are encouraged.

Abstract. The recently identified gastric hormone ghrelin was initially described as a natural Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor ligand. Apart from ghrelin's first discovered action, which was the stimulation of Growth Hormone release, implications for many other functions have been reported. It seems that ghrelin exhibits an important role in conditions related to processes regulating nutrition, body composition and growth, as well as heart, liver, thyroid or kidney dysfunction. In this review, current available knowledge about ghrelin's role in various pathological conditions is presented.