The Effect of 8 Weeks of TRX and Pilates Training on Serum Afamin Levels in Overweight Young Women

Afamin is a vitamin E-binding glycoprotein in plasma that is primarily expressed in the liver. It facilitates the transport of vitamin E across the blood-brain barrier and is strongly associated with all components of the metabolic syndrome (Dieplinger & Dieplinger, 2015). The primary aim of this study was to examine the effect of 8 weeks of TRX and Pilates training on serum afamin levels in overweight young women. In this study, 30 inactive overweight women with a BMI over 25, aged between 25 and 35 years, were randomly selected and assigned to three groups: TRX (N=10), Pilates (N=10), and control (N=10). The Pilates training group performed exercises three sessions per week for 60 minutes per session, including postural exercises, posture identification, relaxation, stretching and balance movements, respiratory endurance, and strength exercises. The TRX group performed TRX workouts three times per week, each session lasting 60 minutes. Blood samples were taken 24 hours before the first training session and 48 hours after the last session. Paired t-tests and mixed analysis of variance (Mixed ANOVA) were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Eight weeks of TRX and Pilates training resulted in significant changes in the BMI of overweight young women (P = 0.006). Additionally, eight weeks of Pilates training led to a significant decrease in afamin levels (P = 0.008). However, neither intervention produced significant changes in blood glucose levels (P = 0.280), insulin (P = 0.140), or insulin resistance (P = 0.162). Based on the findings of this study, it can be cautiously stated that Pilates training, in comparison to TRX, may reduce serum afamin levels in inactive obese women. This reduction could potentially serve as a predictive factor for weight loss, fat reduction, and a decrease in BMI in this population.