Changes in serum irisin, PGC-1α, and IL-6 following combined strength-endurance training in obese young women

Abstract Obesity is characterised by excessive body fat accumulation, leading to an imbalance in myokine secretion, contributing to increased low-grade chronic inflammation. Therefore, strategies to reduce fat accumulation and control inflammation are essential in obesity management. This study aims to investigate the changes in serum irisin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), and interleukin (IL)-6 induced by combined strength-endurance training in obese young adult women. A total of 24 obese women aged 20-25 years, with a body fat percentage of ≥30%, were recruited and randomly assigned to either a strength-endurance training group (n = 12) or a control group (n = 12). Only the training group underwent an eight-week strength-endurance intervention. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to analyse serum concentrations of irisin, PGC-1α, and IL-6 in all samples. Statistical analysis using an mixed-model ANOVA with a significance level of 5% and effect size analysis using Cohen’s d. Significant differences were observed between the control and training groups in post-irisin (Effect size (ES): 2.283), Δ -irisin (ES: 2.031), post-PGC-1α (ES: 1.571), Δ -PGC-1α (ES: 1.155), post-IL-6 (ES: 0.955), and Δ -IL-6 (ES: 1.438) (all 0.05). This study found increased serum irisin concentration, elevated expression of PGC-1α, and a decreased concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in young adult women with obesity following eight weeks of strength-endurance training. These findings have significant implications for obesity management through non-pharmacological, exercise-based strategies.