The interactive effect of aerobic-resistance training and estrogen therapy on metabolic syndrome indices and omentin-1

Introduction: Obesity and visceral fat accumulation after menopause are associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the interactive effect of aerobic-resistance training and estrogen replacement therapy on visceral fat, omentin-1 and HOMA-IR in ovariectomized rats. Materials and Methods: Fifty female Wistar rats were ovariectomized (OVX) and divided into 5 groups (n=10 rats per group): Ovx+sedentary (Sedentary), aerobic-resistance training (Ovx+Exe), aerobic-resistance training+estrogen replacement therapy (Ovx+Exe+Est), estrogen replacement therapy (Ovx+Est) and sesame oil (Ovx+Oil). The exercise consisted of 8-week aerobic-resistance training (20 m/min, 3 days/week, 60 min/day, 10% slope, Load 3% body weight).17b-estradiol valerate (30 &mug/kg bw in 0.2 ml sesame oil) were injected subcutaneously, three days a week during 8 weeks and the Ovx+Est+Est received both exercise protocol and estradiol as previous groups. Obtained data were analyzed by ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test. Results: Omentin-1showed significant increase in Ovx+Exe compared to Ovx+Exe+Est and Ovx+Est (P<0.05). HOMA-IR and visceral fat was decreased in Ovx+Exe, Ovx+Exe+Est compared to Sedentary (P<0.05). Conclusion: Eight-week aerobic-resistance training, 17-b estradiol replacement and co-treatment of exercise+estrogen successfully decreased visceral fat and insulin resistance probably via elevation in omentin-1 in ovaryectomized rats. Regarding the risk of hormone replacement therapy this study suggests that 2- month aerobic-resistance training is more effective in treating metabolic syndrome, rather than estrogen replacement therapy.