The recently discovered myokines, irisin and fibroblast growth factor-21, have emerged beneficial for metabolic health due to their role in regulating browning. This study examined the effects of high-intensity circuit training on obesity indices, physical fitness, and irisin and fibroblast growth factor-21 levels in inactive female college students. Ten female college students performed high-intensity circuit training (jogging, stretching, squat jumps, arm walking and push-ups, lunge jumps, burpee test, mountain climbers, side steps, and crunches and side crunches exercises). The exercise program consisted of 40 min of circuit training at 60%-80% hear rate reserve and was conducted 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The body composition, physical fitness, and concentration of plasma irisin and fibroblast growth factor-21 were ana-lyzed before and after the exercise. The body weight (P= 0.001), waist circumference (P= 0.003), and body fat percentage (P= 0.003) decreased, while the muscular strength (handgrip strength test, P= 0.030; sit-ups test, P= 0.024) and cardiorespiratory fitness (P= 0.001) increased after the exercise program. However, there were no significant changes in the irisin and fibroblast growth factor-21 levels. These results suggest that high-intensity circuit training could be the ideal type of exercise in inactive female college students to induce a positive change in the obesity indices and physical fitness. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of exercise on the browning factors.

Metabolic disorders occurring in menopause, including dyslipidemia, disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, components of metabolic syndrome, constitute risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women. Irisin and fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21), which regulate browning, and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin have emerged beneficial for metabolic health. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of endurance aerobic exercise on circulating browning factor and HMW-adiponectin level in postmenopausal women. Twenty-five postmenopausal women were included in this study. The aerobic exercise program consisted of 60 min of walking exercise at 50%-60% maximum oxygen uptake, and conducted 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Body composition, blood pressure, lipid profiles, physical fitness, and concentration of plasma irisin, FGF-21, HMW-adiponectin were analyzed before and after exercise. Waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and triglyceride levels decreased, and levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, irisin increased after exercise. However, there were no significant changes in FGF-21 and HMW-adiponectin. Balance and flexibility among physical fitness indices improved after exercise. These results suggested that moderate intensity walking could be the ideal type of exercise in menopausal women to induce a positive change in metabolic health markers, including an increase in irisin levels. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of exercise on brown adipose tissue browning factor.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of relative hand-grip strength (HGS) with incident metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean adults using a community-based cohort study. METHODS: Total of 17,271 subjects (4,083 men and 13,188 women) aged 40-64, who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) were included. HGS was tested using a handgrip dynamometer and divided by body mass index (BMI). The diagnosis of MetS was evaluated according to the definition of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Cox's proportional hazard regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of MetS incidence according to HGS levels. RESULTS: During the mean follow-up period of 5 years, the incidence of MetS was 435 (10.7%) and 1,260 (8.9%) subjects in men and women, respectively. Compared to the Low HGS (reference, HR =1), the reduced MetS incidence of high HGS (HR =0.425, 95%CI =0.326-0.556, p <.001) in men and mid HGS (HR =0.859, 95%CI =0.752-0.980, p <.05) and high HGS (HR =0.564, 95%CI=0.564-0.756, p<.001) in women remained significant even after the adjustment for age, income, education, marriage, alcohol consumption, smoking and exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining a high level of HGS may be important strategies for MetS prevention among adults.

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