The impact of aerobic exercise on enhancing SIRT1 and SIRT3 in the blood circulation among individuals with obesity

Abstract Obesity is associated with a decrease in the levels of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and SIRT3 proteins. This reduction can impair the activity of SIRT1 and SIRT3, leading to diminished antioxidant defense, increased oxidative stress, disrupted fatty acid oxidation, and reduced energy expenditure. These changes can contribute to positive energy balance and long-term weight gain. This study aims to investigate the impact of moderate-intensity exercise on enhancing SIRT1 and SIRT3 levels in obese women. The method used in this research is a true-experimental design involving 20 obese women aged 20-30 years, divided into two experimental groups: the control group (CG, n = 10) and the exercise group (EXG, n = 10). The intervention consisted of 40 min of moderate-intensity exercise (60-70% HRmax), with a frequency of 5 times per week for 2 weeks. ELISA was utilised to measure SIRT1 and SIRT3 levels before and after exercise in all samples. The results showed that the average SIRT1 levels pre-exercise between CG and EXG were (1.08 ± 1.09 vs 0.89 ± 0.39 ng/ml, ), and post-exercise (1.01 ± 0.89 vs 2.32 ± 1.79 ng/ml, ) and has a large effect size with a Cohen’s d value of 0.927. SIRT3 levels pre-exercise between CG and EXG were (0.98 ± 0.77 vs 1.01 ± 0.84 ng/ml, ), and post-exercise (0.61 ± 0.21 vs 1.85 ± 1.45 ng/ml, ) and has a large effect size with a Cohen’s d value of 1.197. This study found an increase in SIRT1 and SIRT3 levels in the exercise group compared to the control group. Hence, incorporating moderate-intensity exercise can be recommended as a safe and cost-effective therapeutic strategy for managing obesity, offering a beneficial approach to improving metabolic health in obese individuals.